Facing the prospect of becoming only the second official in Philippine history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she has accepted whatever outcome awaits her — framing it in terms of divine will.
“Based on our discussion earlier with (former) president (Rodrigo) Duterte, everything that happens in a person’s life is written by God. So, if I am impeached, that is written by God. If I am not impeached, see you…” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, where she is currently on an overseas trip that runs until May 15.
The Vice President’s remarks came as the House justice committee approved, by unanimous vote, the report containing the Articles of Impeachment against her — a procedural step that sent the matter to the full plenary. All 318 House members have been given until Sunday to review the articles before a plenary vote scheduled for May 11, according to committee chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro.
Duterte will not be on Philippine soil when that vote takes place. Following her stop in the Netherlands, she is scheduled to visit South Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Speaking from The Hague, Duterte acknowledged public support she said she had received, while characterizing the impeachment effort as politically manufactured. “The second thing I am thankful for is the support for me as I am facing the impeachment, which is being fabricated by the House of Representatives and being supported by some senators,” she said.
She also pushed back against what she described as the unfair targeting of her family. Her husband, Manases Carpio, was named during the proceedings after the Anti-Money Laundering Council disclosed that it had repeatedly flagged bank accounts linked to both Duterte and Carpio for covered and suspicious transactions totaling P6.77 billion. Duterte called it “unfair to drag her family” into the case.
