Malacañan rejects Duterte's call for Marcos to step down

MANILA — Malacañan on Wednesday rejected Vice President Sara Duterte's call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign, characterizing her demand as politically motivated amid her own legal troubles.

The palace statement came as Duterte faces an impeachment trial that threatens to remove her from office and bar her from seeking the presidency in 2028. Officials downplayed the significance of her resignation demand, asserting it reflected her personal political calculations rather than substantive governance concerns.

Duterte's push for Marcos to step down represents an escalation in tensions between the two leaders, whose political alliance has deteriorated dramatically since mid-2023. The vice president, who recently broke with the administration over budgetary disputes and other policy disagreements, has become an increasingly vocal critic of the president.

The impeachment proceedings against Duterte center on accusations related to her alleged misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as Davao City mayor. Her legal team has argued the charges lack merit and constitute political persecution, while supporters view the trial as an attempt to neutralize a potential 2028 presidential contender.

The standoff underscores the deepening political rift within the administration as both figures position themselves ahead of the next election cycle.