MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte remained defiant on Tuesday as her impeachment trial entered its second day, with Senate proceedings turning to allegations that she threatened the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Speaking briefly to reporters before meeting with her legal team, Duterte described herself as “bloodied but unbowed” amid the impeachment proceedings, maintaining her stance that the case against her is politically motivated.
“In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed,” Duterte said.
Although Duterte appeared at the Senate before the session, she did not remain for the proceedings. Her lawyers represented her during the trial.
The prosecution began presenting evidence related to one of the impeachment articles involving alleged public threats against the country’s highest officials. Prosecutors called an official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as their first witness to authenticate videos in which Duterte allegedly made statements directed at Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez.
Among the video evidence presented was an October 2024 clip in which Duterte allegedly said she wanted to “behead” President Marcos. Prosecutors also cited a November 2024 online press conference in which she claimed she had instructed an assassin to kill Marcos, Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez if anything happened to her.
Lead prosecutor Rep. Lorenz Defensor argued that the statements carry significant constitutional implications because they were made by the country’s second-highest elected official and the constitutional successor to the presidency.
“The threats become more serious because they came from the Vice President of the Republic,” Defensor said during the proceedings.
Duterte has repeatedly denied any criminal intent behind her remarks and has maintained that the impeachment case is part of a broader political campaign against her.
The alleged threats represent only one aspect of the impeachment complaint. The Vice President also faces accusations involving the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and corruption. She has denied all allegations.
The impeachment trial is widely viewed as one of the most consequential political proceedings in recent Philippine history. A conviction would require the votes of at least 16 of the Senate’s 24 senator-judges. If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and could be permanently disqualified from holding any future public office, potentially ending her chances of seeking the presidency in 2028.
The trial follows the collapse of the political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families, whose tandem won the 2022 national elections by a wide margin. Their relationship later deteriorated amid public policy disagreements and political disputes, culminating in the House of Representatives approving articles of impeachment against the Vice President.
The Senate is expected to hear additional witnesses and review further documentary and video evidence as the trial continues.
This report was prepared for international distribution and is based on reporting from Reuters, with additional information from the Senate of the Philippines proceedings.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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