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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / March 28) – Vice President Sara Duterte stated on Saturday that she is not concerned about the ongoing impeachment hearing at the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice, which began on March 25 and will resume on April 14, calling it “not a priority.”
“Hindi ko na iniisip ang impeachment sa panahon ngayon. Iniwan ko na lahat sa mga abogado” (I do not think about the impeachment these days. I left it all to my lawyers), she told reporters at San Pedro Square following the Parada Dabawenyo, a civic parade typically held on the city’s anniversary on March 16 but scheduled this year for March 28, coinciding with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 81st birthday. A solidarity walk to “bring him home alive” was also held in the afternoon.
Duterte did not attend the March 25 hearing due to “constitutional objections” raised by her legal team, a 16-member panel led by Philip Sigfried Fortun.
Several lawyers, spearheaded by Davao City-based Israelito Torreon, petitioned the Supreme Court last Friday to halt the impeachment proceedings. The Vice President clarified that Torreon’s team did not consult her but expressed gratitude for their efforts.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa independent lawyers na hindi kasama sa defense team na nag-iisip pa rin na ipaglaban ang saligang batas at kontrahin ang pag-aabuso ng proseso ng impeachment” (I thank the independent lawyers who are not part of the defense team for defending the Constitution and fighting the abuses in the impeachment process), she said.
On March 2, the House Committee on Justice ruled that two impeachment complaints against Duterte were sufficient in form, allowing the proceedings to proceed. Earlier, it dismissed one complaint and approved the withdrawal of another.
Impeachment requires a one-third (1/3) vote from the House of Representatives to initiate charges, followed by a Senate trial where a two-thirds (2/3) vote is needed for conviction.
Duterte was impeached in February last year, but the Supreme Court later deemed the complaint unconstitutional for violating the one-year ban and due process, barring any new complaints until February 6, 2026. However, the Court emphasized that this decision does not absolve her of the charges.
Duterte announced on February 18 her intention to run for President in the 2028 elections. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)
