Lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte walked into the Office of the Senate Secretary on Monday afternoon hauling five suitcases of documents — her formal answer to the impeachment articles awaiting trial before the Senate. The central thrust of that filing: the charges should be thrown out entirely.
In the executive summary handed to reporters, the Vice President’s defense team described the four articles as “constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient.” The document argued that the accusations “suffer from fatal constitutional, procedural, and substantive defects,” failing to meet the benchmarks set by the Constitution and therefore warranting dismissal.
Whether Duterte herself will take part in the proceedings remains unsettled. Asked if she was prepared to appear, her lawyer Michael Poa would commit only to “If necessary,” adding, “We have to see, that will have to be determined.” He stressed that the team’s preferred outcome is to have the case dismissed outright, but said, “whatever happens, we are ready to defend the Vice President.”
The House prosecutors signaled they have no intention of letting the dismissal request stand. Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro pushed back on procedural grounds, noting in Filipino that “The Senate rules on impeachment do not speak about dismissal,” and adding that those same rules “neither speak about remand nor about clarification.” She characterized Duterte’s submission as little more than a recycled version of the defense she presented earlier to the House justice committee, and said the panel would file its reply within the week.
Other members of the prosecution echoed that resolve. Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said, “The prosecution will address these matters fully and properly in its reply before the Senate impeachment court,” while spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the team “remains fully prepared and committed to its constitutional duty” of laying out the case.
The four articles accuse Duterte of misusing confidential funds tied to her office, amassing unexplained wealth, betraying public trust through alleged threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and bribery. The Senate first convened as an impeachment court on May 18, with the trial itself set to open on July 6.
