OVP says Sara Duterte ‘eager’ to face impeachment raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Wednesday maintained that Vice President Sara Duterte is “eager” to face her impeachment trial despite her camp’s efforts to have it dismissed.

OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo made the pronouncement when asked about the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey results, which showed that a majority, or 66 percent, of Filipinos believe Duterte should face the impeachment court to address corruption allegations against her.

READ: Majority of Filipinos believe Sara Duterte should face impeachment court

“The vice president is ready. She's been saying that. And she's eager to be able to present her case or evidence in the impeachment court so that once and for all, all doubts cast on her will go away.  And that's what she wants,” said Castelo at a press conference.

However, Castelo said there are legal strategies and remedies available to Duterte’s legal team to address the impeachment complaints against her, including the petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking the dismissal of the complaint.

“So we'll wait. The Vice President will just wait for whatever decision the Supreme Court issues on this one. And should the impeachment trial go as planned, the Vice President is still there,” said Castelo.

Asked about the contradiction in Duterte’s supposed “eagerness” to face trial and her lawyers’ moves to dismiss it, Castelo responded that it was her lawyers’ decision.

"As a lawyer, if the Vice President finds that there are strong legal grounds to file a dismissal, then she will just let the lawyers do what they find or do what they think is best,” said Castelo.

“So go ahead, if you find something, go ahead, it's up to you. You're the ones handling my case, I'm now your client,” she added.

‘Dismissal would save country millions’

With this, Castelo said Duterte’s next moves will depend on the SC’s decision on the petition to dismiss the impeachment.

Castelo even welcomed the idea of the impeachment complaint against Duterte being dismissed as it would save the country millions of pesos.

“Whatever the Supreme Court says about her case, we will proceed. If the Supreme Court says there is no need because it should be dismissed for technical reasons or whatever, whatever reason the court gives. If it's for the impeachment trial, that is fine, the Vice President is ready,” said Castelo.

“If it's not, if the Supreme Court says it cannot be heard at this time. And then we'll be very lucky actually as a country because we'll save millions and millions of people, of money on the trial that is technically defective from the beginning,” she added.

Duterte is set to face the Senate impeachment trial amid accusations of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

She is facing trial after being impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, during the 19th Congress.

However, a myriad of delays have affected the impeachment case against Duterte, including the Senate refusing to start the trial until the opening of the 20th Congress by remanding the impeachment articles to the House of Representatives. /mr

(2025/07/16-13:59)

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