VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte questioned whether the impeachment moves are a genuine quest for accountability or a targeted attempt to “remove a person who doesn’t agree with the administration.”
Speaking to Filipino media in the Netherlands, the Vice President addressed rumors that members of Congress are leaning toward impeachment out of fear of political retaliation or the loss of district funding.
‘I am not vindictive’
Responding to claims that lawmakers fear her “vindictiveness” should she remain in power, Duterte pointed to her long political history in Davao as proof to the contrary.
She cited her past rivalry with the late Speaker Prospero Nogales, noting that despite their “heavy” political battles, she never developed a reputation for being vengeful.
“People in Davao know that,” Duterte said. “I have never been known as a vindictive person.”
The Vice President challenged lawmakers to focus on the merits of the case, which she claims are nonexistent. She described the current impeachment complaints as a collection of baseless narratives lacking any supporting evidence.
“If I were a member of Congress, I wouldn’t think about whether a person is vindictive or not. I would look at the evidence. Is there evidence or none? There is none,” she asserted. “Everything in that complaint is just allegations. There is nothing to support them.”
Meanwhile, Duterte asked the public to weigh the true intent of the House of Representatives.
“What is the real story here? Is this accountability, or is this about removing someone who doesn’t agree with the administration?”
The Vice President’s remarks come at a time of deepening cracks in the “UniTeam” alliance, as the political landscape shifts ahead of the 2028 elections.
