Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday distanced himself from the impeachment of his estranged Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the executive branch of government cannot have a hand in it.

The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on the last session day before the mid-term elections in the Philippines. The Senate received the articles of impeachment on Wednesday,

The trial of impeached Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte cannot be rushed and will only begin in June, the Senate’s president said, while analysts described it as a political numbers game likely to be shaped by upcoming midterm polls.