Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Monday reaffirmed their readiness to face the impeachment trial but warned against turning the process into a political weapon.
In a statement, her lawyers maintained that the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte is constitutionally flawed and reiterated that impeachment should be treated as a legal safeguard—not a means to suppress political rivals. “It is a constitutional mechanism, not a political tool,” they emphasized.
This comes amid growing pressure on the Senate to formally begin the impeachment trial. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5 with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the charges, which include betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, and corruption—allegations she denies.
Her legal team said they would use the proceedings to refute what they described as unfounded accusations.
Although Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero previously announced that the impeachment process would begin on June 2, the Senate postponed the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to June 11 to prioritize key legislative measures.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recently mentioned that some senators are drafting a resolution to dismiss the case, though no formal resolution has been filed, according to Escudero.
Support for the trial’s continuation has come from legal experts, religious groups, and prominent academic institutions, including Ateneo, UST, La Salle, Adamson, and UP.