MANILA — Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday challenged prosecutors and lawmakers to prove the allegations against her with evidence, accusing them of relying on insults, speculation and political theatrics in the ongoing impeachment trial.

In a statement, Duterte said those seeking to uphold the two impeachment complaints against her should be confident in the strength of their case and should not use the trial to search for evidence to support allegations.

“Prove The Impeachable Offense. Prove It With Evidence—Not Insults, Speculation, Or Political Theatrics,” Duterte said.

She described the impeachment complaints as having been filed “without a shred of evidence” and accused prosecutors and members of Congress of attempting to turn unproven allegations into a narrative of wrongdoing.

“A strong case does not need the adornment of theatrics,” Duterte said, citing remarks made during the proceedings that she said did not establish an impeachable offense.

She pointed to a senator calling a witness “stupid,” a lawyer allegedly referring to her as the “mastermind of a scam,” and another witness describing her as a “brat.”

“Insults reveal the need to feign confidence in the face of a weak presentation,” she said.

Duterte also criticized the administration over its priorities, saying the country was dealing with flooding and poverty while the government was focused on the impeachment proceedings, the allocation of the 2027 national budget and efforts to alter the Constitution.

“Mga kababayan, lubog na ang bansa sa baha at kahirapan, pero tila walang mananagot, dahil ang impeachment, ang paghati-hatian ang 2027 budget, at ang paghahanda kung papaano baliin ang Constitution para manatili sa puwesto ang prayoridad ng administrasyon at lahat ng kaalyado nito,” she said.