Vice President Duterte Calls for Fair Impeachment Process
Davao City – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte urged the public and political watchers to avoid calling for the inhibition of senator-judges in the upcoming impeachment trial based solely on perceived biases. She stressed that disqualifying senators just because they may be seen as for or against her risks undermining the entire process.
Speaking at a press briefing after the Pasidungog 2025 event at the SMX Convention Center, Vice President Duterte said, “We cannot ask senators to inhibit themselves simply because they are perceived as biased. A person’s position is either for or against Inday Sara. If we use that as a standard for inhibition, we would have to disqualify many senators on both sides.”
Concerns Over Fairness and Bias
Duterte cited Senator Risa Hontiveros as an example, recalling the senator’s past remarks calling for the dismantling of the Duterte political clan. She questioned whether such statements should automatically lead to Hontiveros’ exclusion from the trial if bias alone were the criterion.
“If we are to be fair, we should also call for the inhibition of those who have clearly shown bias against me, including Sen. Hontiveros, who publicly said that the Duterte family must be destroyed,” she added in a Filipino dialect.
Despite the tensions surrounding the impeachment, Duterte urged trust in the Senate’s integrity and asked the public to give senator-judges the benefit of the doubt. “I believe they will perform their duties fairly and by their oath,” she said.
Impeachment Trial and Political Context
The Vice President noted that her attendance at the impeachment sessions would depend on her legal team’s advice, which will determine if her presence is necessary when the trial begins.
Addressing criticism linking the country’s economic woes to her impeachment, Duterte said investor confidence had already declined long before the proceedings started. “Whether the impeachment is there or not, the truth is investor confidence is already gone,” she stated firmly, highlighting the drop in foreign direct investments.
She warned against using her as a scapegoat for the economy’s poor condition, emphasizing that impeachment only leads to removal from office and permanent disqualification from public service, not criminal penalties. “If these people really want accountability, they should file criminal cases in court,” she said.
Allegations of Political Motivations
Duterte also questioned the impeachment’s legitimacy, alleging some lawmakers may have received incentives for their signatures. “Let us not pretend this is purely about justice. Many congressmen admitted that their signatures on the Articles of Impeachment came with strings attached,” she claimed.
She added that the process itself lacked transparency, noting, “They didn’t even transmit the articles themselves. We should be questioning how the impeachment process was crafted and how it reached the Senate.”
Her remarks come amid growing scrutiny from political groups and business sectors, with many pointing to political instability as a key driver of economic uncertainty. Duterte insisted that these economic challenges predate the impeachment and that real progress requires deeper institutional reforms rather than political blame games.
Upcoming Trial and Public Attention
The impeachment court summoned Vice President Duterte and her legal team on June 11. Her trial follows the House of Representatives’ impeachment vote on February 5, drawing intense public and political focus.
For more news and updates on impeachment proceedings, visit Filipinokami.com.