MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte announced that preparations for her impeachment trial are underway as the Senate resumes session on June 2, 2025.

During a press briefing, she revealed that preparations for the impeachment began as early as November 2023 when ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro announced the plan. “There were already lawyers doing their work for the impeachment case,” she said.

Duterte also mentioned that she plans to meet with her legal team to discuss the progress of the case but dismissed the idea of resigning, stating that it is too early to consider such a move.

When asked if her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, would lead her defense team, the VP explained he cannot be part of the defense team “because of his age and because of the rigorous preparations in the impeachment case, sabihin ko huwag na siya maglead. He is welcome to give his input in the defense.”

She noted that her father will turn 80 this year.

The VP shared that her team hasn’t encountered any challenges yet but was overwhelmed by the number of lawyers offering to help.

“Na-overwhelm kami dahil ang daming lawyers ang nag-signify na tutulong sila sa defense. Ngayon pinag-uusapan [namin] how to go about it, their commitment of support na makatulong sa pag-iisip na makuha sa defense,” she explained.

In her statement, the VP said, “Sa mga nakaraang araw, marami ang humihingi ng reaksyon, komento, o damdamin ko sa isyu ng impeachment na naihain laban sa akin. Sa kabila ng aking mga naging pahayag ukol sa planong impeachment sa mga nakaraang buwan, ang tanging masasabi ko na lamang sa puntong ito ay: God save the Philippines.”

“Nais ko na lang ipaabot ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat sa mga kababayan na patuloy na nagdarasal, sumusuporta, nagtitiwala, at patuloy na nagmamahal sa akin. Manalig kayo – dahil sa taumbayan ang tagumpay,” Duterte added.

During the press briefing, she also denied threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, stressing that, “I did not make an assassination threat to the president. Sila lang nagsabi niyan na may assassin, may gunman.”

The impeachment complaint includes allegations of the VP’s death threats against the First Couple and Romualdez.

📷 Inday Sara Duterte FB