MANILA — Recalling Vice President Sara Duterte's tirades against his family last year, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos on Friday said he wonders why anyone was surprised that he was the first House member to sign the fourth complaint that led to Duterte's impeachment this week.

Rep. Marcos enumerated Duterte's warnings to his family as primary reason for his signature —  from exhuming the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s remains and throwing them in the West Philippine Sea, to the recent supposed "kill plot" against his father President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., mother First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Romualdez is Rep. Marcos' uncle and political mentor.

"Alangan naman kung sasabihin ng tao kung huhukayin niya 'yung lolo mo at itapon 'yung katawan sa West Philippine Sea, sasabihin niya gusto niya patayin 'yung pangulo at first lady, 'yung aking magulang.... Bakit naman nagugulat ang tao na pipirma ko d'yan?" he said.

(If a person says they will exhume your grandfather's remains and throw them in the sea, says they want to kill the President and first lady, my parents... why would people be surprised that I signed?)

Rep. Marcos, who is also House senior deputy deputy majority leader, emphasized that "these are statements that can't be taken lightly especially from someone with such a high position."

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Rep. Marcos previously called out the vice president for her remarks against his family, saying last October that “mental clarity seems to be eluding” Duterte.

When asked about the allegations that he started the fourth impeachment complaint, the young Marcos said people are giving him "too much credit".

"I did sign... but I did not spearhead any movement... Or try to convince anyone to sign," he explained.

He said he only asked for others' opinion and that he sought his father's advice.

"Tama naman 'yung sinabi niya, he said 'Do your duty as a congressman and uphold your oath that you swear to protect.' And it is my constitutional to go through the impeachment process as an elected representative," the Ilocos Norte lawmaker said.

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Over 215 of 306 House members gave their support on the impeachment complaint against Duterte at the plenary session on Wednesday, February 5, advancing the process to a Senate trial.

On Friday, 25 more lawmakers indicated they want their names included in the complaint. The chamber explained these legislators were not physically present on Wednesday to sign the forms.

'NO AYUDA IN EXCHANGE FOR SIGNATURES'

The young Marcos denied claims that House members who supported the impeachment against Duterte were paid to do so.

There are allegations on social media, and by Duterte supporters, that lawmakers who signed the complaint will get allocations from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) and Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations (AICS).

"I think that's just part of the fake news of the DDS, parte 'yan ng smear campaign nila to discredit the movement," Marcos said, referring to Duterte supporters.

"'Yung sinasabi nilang may AKAP or ACIS na kapalit, walang ganun na binigay," he continued.

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Rep. Marcos said he cannot blame Duterte supporters for making those claims.

"[A]lam naman natin sino ang amo nila (We know who they answer to). But no, there was nothing offered in exchange for the signatures," he stressed.

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Responding to Duterte's statement earlier Friday that she never threatened the President or his family, Rep. Marcos said "I think we know the truth on that so let's leave it at that."

As for the rest of Marcos family, President Marcos Jr. said he would only be an "interested observer" on the impeachment process, while his sister and re-electionist Sen. Imee Marcos has announced she would oppose it.

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