VP Sara Duterte Calls for Fair Senate Impeachment Process
DAVAO CITY – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has urged the public and political observers to avoid pushing for the inhibition of senator-judges in the upcoming impeachment trial based solely on perceived biases for or against her. She stressed that disqualifying senators just because of their stance could undermine the credibility of the entire process.
Speaking at the Pasidungog 2025 event held at the SMX Convention Center, Vice President Duterte emphasized the importance of allowing senator-judges to carry out their duties without unwarranted exclusions. “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,” she said in a Filipino dialect.
Concerns Over Bias and Senatorial Inhibition
The Vice President cited Senator Risa Hontiveros as an example. She recalled a previous public statement from the senator calling for the dismantling of the Duterte political clan, questioning whether such remarks should automatically disqualify Hontiveros from participating in the trial if bias is the only factor considered.
“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.
Despite the tension surrounding the impeachment, Sara Duterte called on the public to trust the Senate’s integrity. She believes the senator-judges will perform their responsibilities fairly and uphold their oath.
Impeachment Trial and Economic Concerns
Vice President Duterte also addressed the upcoming impeachment trial, noting that her participation will depend on the advice of her legal counsel. They will decide if her presence before the Senate impeachment court is necessary once the proceedings begin.
Amid criticisms linking the country’s economic downturn to her looming impeachment, she firmly stated that investor confidence had already declined well before the trial started. “Whether the impeachment is there or not, the truth is investor confidence is already gone,” she said, stressing the drop in foreign direct investments.
She urged the public not to scapegoat her for the poor state of the economy, emphasizing that the impeachment is limited in scope. The process only allows for removal from office or permanent disqualification from public service, without criminal penalties.
Questions on Impeachment Legitimacy
Sara Duterte raised doubts about the impeachment’s legitimacy, alleging that some lawmakers may have received money or budget incentives in exchange for their signatures on the Articles of Impeachment. “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 said.
She also called attention to procedural issues, noting that the articles were not even transmitted properly and questioned how the impeachment process was crafted before reaching the Senate.
Calls for Institutional Reforms
Her remarks come amid heightened scrutiny from political groups and business sectors, many of whom blame political instability for economic uncertainty. The Vice President insisted that these issues predate the impeachment and stressed the need for deeper institutional reforms instead of political blame games.
The impeachment court summoned Vice President Duterte and her legal team on June 11, following her impeachment by the House of Representatives on February 5.
For more news and updates on the Senate impeachment process, visit Filipinokami.com.