Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Vice President Sara Duterte attends the attends the House quad committee hearing on the extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from her father former president Rodrigo Duterte administration’s war on drugs on November 13, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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Sara

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:504px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173890273158620241113-duterte-quadcomm-hearing-MT-8.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House quad committee hearing on the extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from her father former president Rodrigo Duterte administration’s war on drugs on November 13, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Impeached Vice President Sara Duterte said her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, would be welcome on her defense team but not as lead counsel.</p><p>Duterte said last year that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/25/ex-pres-duterte-to-stand-as-lawyer-for-vp-sara-in-impeachment-woes-1719">her father volunteered to be one of her lawyers</a> if the impeachment complaints against her lead to a trial.</p><p>&quot;Maybe if he wants to, he can be part of the defense team, but because of his age and because of the rigorous preparations in an impeachment case, baka sabihin ko sa kanya wag na siyang mag lead. Kasi medyo may edad na eh (I might tell him not be the lead because of his age),&quot; she said.</p><p>Duterte faced the media Friday, the first time since the House of Representatives voted to impeach her and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/7/sara-duterte-says-she-s-okay-after-impeachment-we-leave-it-to-the-lawyers-1127">Sara Duterte after her impeachment: &#x27;God save the Philippines&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>DUTERTE SENDS VP VIDEO OF HIM SINGING</strong></div><p>The vice president said she has informed her father of her impeachment but that they have not yet talked personally.</p><p>&quot;Wala pa. Nagpadala ako ng message through sa kaniyang assistant. Sinabi ko na &#x27;everything will be alright.&#x27; Yun ata sinabi ko,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>(I sent a message through his assistant saying &#x27;everything will be alright.&#x27;)</p><p>Her father&#x27;s reply was a song.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;MacArthur Park&#x27;. So nagpadala siya ng video na kumakanta siya (&#x27;MacArthur Park&#x27;. So he sent a video of him singing) &quot; the VP said.</p><p>&quot;MacArthur Park&quot; was a 1968 song by Richard Harris about the end of a love affair and witnessing an ex-lover get married .</p><p>Donna Summer released a disco version of the song in 1978.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/25/ex-pres-duterte-to-stand-as-lawyer-for-vp-sara-in-impeachment-woes-1719">Ex-Pres. Duterte to stand as lawyer for VP Sara in impeachment woes</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6txhCtLSqAU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/senate-urged-to-kick-off-impeachment-trial-of-vp-sara-duterte-1911">&#x27;Filipinos are watching&#x27;: Senate urged to kick off impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte</a></div><p>On Wednesday, more than 200 members of the House of Representatives signed an impeachment complaint against Duterte, fast tracking its transmittal to the Senate, which would be tasked to convene into an impeachment court. </p><p>Duterte said she has yet to be briefed by her lawyers on the impeachment complaint, but assured supporters that her team is prepared for a potential trial.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DsJrsZDBBl0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte faced the media Friday, the first time since the House of Representatives voted to impeach her and face a trial at the Senate.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte faced the media Friday, the first time since the House of Representatives voted to impeach her and face a trial at the Senate.

VP Sara says ex-president dad welcome on team but will likely not be lead counsel

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VP Sara says ex-president dad welcome on team but will likely not be lead counsel

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 07, 2025 01:29 PM PHT

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Updated February 07, 2025 02:32 PM PHT

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