Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo: Office of the Vice President Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte only had  a short and sweet “God, save the Philippines” response after the House of Representatives impeached her last Wednesday, February 5.

Despite calling for a press conference for the first time this year, Duterte was short on words Friday, February 7 about her impeachment reaching the Senate for trial.  

“Sa mga nakaraang araw, marami ang humihingi ng reaksyon, komento, o damdamin, damdamin ko tungkol sa impeachment na naihain laban sa akin,” she said. 

“Sa kabila ng aking mga naging pahayag tungkol sa impeachment sa mga nakaraan na buwan, ang tanging masasabi ko na lamang sa puntong ito ay God, save the Philippines,” she said. 

She finished her message by expressing her gratitude to all of her supporters. 

No vote count in Senate yet

Despite claims that the impeachment process will be more favorable to her in the Senate than it was in the House of Representatives given the number of Duterte allies there, the Vice President has yet come to terms with the numbers because her legal team is occupied preparing her defense.

“I’ve not counted numbers of votes in the Senate so we are not there yet. The legal team is still in preparation of evidence and what we will do moving forward,” she said. 

She also has not had any communication yet with her allies in the Senate.

“I haven’t talked to my friends in the Senate,” she said.

Duterte said her camp has already started preparations the moment ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro floated the possibility of pushing an impeachment effort against her. 

After over two months in the lower chamber, 215 lawmakers endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint fast-tracking the transmittal of the petition to the Senate for trial. 

Senate President Chiz Escudero clarified that endorsement to the upper house does not automatically convene a trial given the receipt of the articles on the last day of session, just before day break.

Furthermore, certain processes like review of both Senate rules on impeachment and the complaints itself still need to take time making trial during recess legally impossible, said Escudero. 

Duterte also shied away from making any comment about President Marcos Jr. ‘s claim of not having a hand in the impeachment process despite his son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos being the top signatory in her impeachment. 

Valentine message 

Living true to her signature sarcasm when it comes to her critics, Duterte left a viral-worthy Valentine message. 

“Mas masakit pang maiwanan ng boyfriend o girlfriend kesa ma-impeach ka sa House of Representatives,” Duterte said. 

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