Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte said on Friday her lawyers were preparing to fight the impeachment case, signalling she was ready to defend herself as her feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr intensified.
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“The Filipino people will prevail,” Duterte said in a briefing as she sought to project calm and confidence amid the political challenges surrounding her.
“We will have to respect the Senate’s decision,” she said about the chamber that will have to convene as an impeachment court after the House of Representatives impeached her on Wednesday.
The vice-president, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, faces removal from office and disqualification to hold a public post if at least two-thirds of senators vote to convict her, according to the constitution. Asked whether she has the numbers to avoid a conviction in Senate, Duterte said her team has not determined this.
The embattled vice-president was speaking publicly for the first time since she was impeached by the House for charges including conspiracy to assassinate Marcos and misuse of public funds – accusations she previously denied. The impeachment complaint was sent to the Senate also on Wednesday.
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The developments this week exacerbate the rift between Marcos and Duterte, who teamed up to win the 2022 election only to see their alliance collapse due to policy differences. It also raises the stakes for the coming midterm polls in May, as newly-elected senators could decide the outcome of Duterte’s impeachment trial.