Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, while the hearing on alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education is suspended. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175083879777120241125-duterte-sara-hor-hearing-MT-5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, while the hearing on alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education is suspended. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said her camp responded to her impeachment charges “with caution” instead of engaging in a “bloodbath” as she initially wanted due to the advice of her lawyers.</div><p>Duterte gave the statement after several lawmakers criticized her Answer Ad Cautalem, saying that it was far from the “bloodbath” the Vice President said she wanted to see during her impeachment trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/24/house-prosecution-sara-duterte-s-reply-relies-on-technical-issue-not-substance-1852">House prosecution on VP Duterte&#x27;s plea to dismiss impeachment case: Not the &#x27;bloodbath&#x27; we expect</a></div><p>“Ako yung client. May sarili akong gusto. Mayroon din akong mga abogado. Nagbabayad ako sa kanila for their professional services,” Duterte told reporters. </p><p>“Ang expertise nila na maghanda at magdefend ng impeachment case so as a client hindi ko papairalin yung gusto ko over sa gusto ng abogado because that would mean I would waste my money paying lawyers but not listening to their expert advise,” she said.</p><p>“Ayoko magsunog ng pera,” she added.</p><p>Earlier this week, Duterte’s camp filed a “not guilty” plea, and sought for the dismissal of the articles of impeachment against her.</p><p>The Vice President also claimed that there are “no statements of ultimate facts” in the impeachment complaint, calling it “nothing more than a scrap of paper”, and a “clear abuse of the impeachment process”.</p><p>The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February, but the trial proper of her ouster case has yet to proceed after the Senate cited several technicalities, including the constitutionality of hearing the 19th Congress’ impeachment case during the 20th Congress.</p><div><br/></div><p>&#x27;<strong>WISIK-WISIK LANG MUNA?&#x27;</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Atty. Princess Abante, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, fired back at the Vice-President after Duterte&#x27;s move to seek the dismissal of the impeachment complaint.</p><div><strong></strong></div><p>&quot;Baka wisik-wisik lang daw muna. Pero gusto natin magtuloy-tuloy ang trial, magpresenta na ang ebidensya. Doon lang natin malalaman ‘yung kasagutan sa lahat ng ating tanong,&quot; Abante said Wednesday. </p><p>She also denied the claim of Senate President Francis Escudero that the House is being “stubborn” and has been “making difficult” even the mere receipt of documents related to the impeachment proceedings.</p><p>Escudero was referring to the lower chamber’s move to defer accepting the articles of impeachment, which the Senate sitting as an impeachment court ordered to be returned to the House until it complies with two requirements. House prosecutors previously said these requirements “have no basis in Constitution and in law”.</p><p>The House also failed to receive a copy of the defense lawyers’ entry of appearance, supposedly because the messenger did not explain what documents he is delivering.</p><p>&quot;Walang tinatanggihan, walang pinahihirapan. Ang gusto natin isang trial na magawa forthwith,&quot; said Abante. &quot;Hindi naman kami nagpapahirap. Ka-klaruhin natin kung ano ang mga factual na pangyayari sa mga binanggit ni Senate President.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMBUDSMAN</strong></div><p>Meantime, the Office of the Ombudsman has also asked Duterte to respond to allegations that she misused funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/23/house-impeachment-prosecutor-surprised-by-ombudsman-s-swift-action-on-vp-dutertes-case-1743">House impeachment prosecutor ‘surprised’ by Ombudsman’s swift action on VP Duterte’s case</a></div><p>Incoming ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima earlier alleged that this may be a part of the Ombudsman’s “game plan” to dismiss corruption charges against Duterte ahead of her impeachment trial.</p><p>De Lima described the Ombudsman’s actions as “out of character,” noting that Ombudsman Samuel Martires was an appointee of the Vice President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. </p><p>“Hindi ko alam kung bakit nila inaksyunan at kung bakit mabilis nilang inaksyunan,” the Vice President said when asked about the Ombudsman’s latest move.</p><p>“Ang sinasabi ko lang the lawyers are ready to answer charges whether it is in the Sandiganbayan or the impeachment court,” she said. -- <strong>with a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/ulEKgNU1hOM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/Av3e_Vcy0fw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>"As a client hindi ko papairalin yung gusto ko over sa gusto ng abogado because that would mean I would waste my money. Ayoko magsunog ng pera,” Vice President Sara Duterte said.</p>

"As a client hindi ko papairalin yung gusto ko over sa gusto ng abogado because that would mean I would waste my money. Ayoko magsunog ng pera,” Vice President Sara Duterte said.

No more bloodbath? VP Sara says she obeyed lawyers in seeking impeachment dismissal

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No more bloodbath? VP Sara says she obeyed lawyers in seeking impeachment dismissal

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 25, 2025 04:25 PM PHT

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