Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions, June 25, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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PRIDE MONTH EVENT- VP Sara

Pia Gutierrez

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175204786876020250625-kasarilayaan-duterte-MT41.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions, June 25, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — Malacanang on Wednesday denied allegations of political persecution against Vice President Sara Duterte as it again distanced itself from her impeachment trial.A Social Weather Services survey released Tuesday showed that<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/sws-most-pinoys-disagree-with-impeachment-complaint-vs-sara-duterte-1817"> 42 percent of respondents disagree with the impeachment complaint </a>against Duterte. Asked about the survey, Duterte said on Tuesday that it showed many Filipinos were aware of the “political persecution” against her family. “Okay, kung iyon po ang kaniyang opinyon, eh di igalang po natin, kung feeling niya po ay political persecution. But as far as the administration is concerned, wala pong political persecution na ibinabato sa Bise Presidente,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in response.“Ito naman po siguro ay nakikita kung ano iyong mga dokumento na naisiwalat na sa hearing,” she said.“Wala po at hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo at ang administrasyong ito kung magkakaroon man po ng impeachment trial o hindi,” the official added. The Palace respects the opinion of the public on the impeachment complaint, Castro said. But she noted an earlier survey of the SWS showed that nearly 9 out of 10 Filipinos wanted Duterte to address the impeachment charges against her.“Prang magkaiba po yata ang gusto ng tao na dapat siyang humarap sa isang impeachment trial at 42% iyong hindi sang-ayon sa impeachment complaint,” Castro said.“Kung anuman po ang sinasabi ng survey, iyan po ang sentimiyento ng taumbayan so igagalang po natin iyan,” she continued.<div> </div><div>DELAYS </div><div> </div>The same poll found that 44 percent believe the Senate was deliberately delaying the start of the impeachment trial, compared to 25 percent who do not believe and 22 percent who are undecided. Nine percent did not have enough knowledge about the issue. Several House members renewed on Wednesday their call for the Senate sitting as an impeachment court to begin the trial immediately. “Malinaw na malinaw po na talagang nagkakaroon ng delay, nagkakaroon ng dribbling, kung anu-anong invented technicalities at invented issues ang ginagawa nila. Nakikita ‘yan ng taong bayan,” said ML party-list Rep. Leila De Lima, who is expected to join the House prosecution team.  “We share the sentiment of the public na talaga namang ramdam na ramdam ‘yung delay… This delay is not just about people waiting to see the evidence. This is about people expecting the Senate to do its job,” added Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña. Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, who will also join the House prosecution team, said the public was waiting for the evidence in the trial. “Kasi sa isang impeachment na trial, hindi lang naman ang mga senator-judge ang naghuhusga. Lahat ng mga Pilipino ay naghuhusga din,” he said. House impeachment prosecutor and Batangas Second District Rep. Gerville Luistro said that regardless of the survey results, it is “mandatory for us to conduct a trial.” She added that the pronouncement of some senator-judges against the trial and public support for the Duterte family could have been factors in the survey respondents’ disagreement with the impeachment complaint. “That is why there&#x27;s a need really for us to proceed to the presentation of evidence so that the people will have an ample opportunity to assess really if we have a basis to proceed to this prayed for, that is, of course the removal and the perpetual disqualification,” Luistro said.Zambales First District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun pointed out that some respondents were undecided on the issue.“Marami pa rin undecided. So talagang inaantay pa rin. Gusto nilang mapanood ‘yung magkaroon ng impeachment trial. So hindi natin pwedeng panghawakan ‘yung survey na yan dahil napakarami pa rin talagang undecided na talagang gustong mapanood at gustong makita kung ano talaga ‘yung nilalaman na ebidensya na ipi-presenta ng prosecution,” he said.The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in early February on charges of graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos.A guilty verdict in the Senate would result in her removal from office and a lifetime ban from Philippine politics.But after convening as an impeachment court on June 10, the Senate immediately sent the case back to the House, questioning its constitutionality.&#x27;Let truth unfold&#x27;: Profs add to pressure on Senate to start VP Sara impeachment trialThe constitution bars subjecting anyone to multiple impeachment proceedings within the same year.The House has passed a resolution certifying that the impeachment proceedings against Duterte fully complied with the constitution, including the filings of the first three complaints.Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial is not expected to start until the new Senate convenes on July 28. <div>With a report from Agence France-Presse</div>

Malacanang on Wednesday denied allegations of political persecution against Vice President Sara Duterte as it again distanced itself from her impeachment trial.

Malacanang on Wednesday denied allegations of political persecution against Vice President Sara Duterte as it again distanced itself from her impeachment trial.

Palace says Sara Duterte impeachment trial is not political persecution

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Palace says Sara Duterte impeachment trial is not political persecution

Pia Gutierrez,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 09, 2025 04:02 PM PHT

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Updated July 31, 2025 06:27 PM PHT

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