Vice President Sara Duterte, speaks to the members of the media and answers questions during a press conference at the OVP Central Office in Mandaluyong City on Friday, February 7, 2025. Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s view about her impeachment shows her “low regard for public service,” two lawmakers said on Friday.
In an online interview, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said Duterte’s remark that losing a partner is more painful than impeachment shows her disinterest in the country’s democratic processes.
“This only shows how low she regards public service, that she does not give importance to the people’s mandate and our democratic processes,” he said in Filipino.
“I want to tell VP Sara, ‘sister, this is not a discussion of relationships, it is about public accountability,” he added.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, meanwhile, said that Duterte may appear unbothered, but Filipinos are bothered by the alleged corruption within her offices.
“We do not want an official who is nonchalant regarding issues of corruption. This is a big deal to our youth because we would lose if corrupt officials remained in office. You may be unbothered, Sara, but we are bothered,” he said in Filipino.
“The people will save the Philippines from corrupt politicians like you,” he added.
During Duterte’s press briefing on Friday morning, she appeared to be in high spirits despite the House’s decision to impeach her last Wednesday.
In the same briefing, Duterte candidly said that losing a partner is more painful than being impeached.
“Alam niyo, mas masakit pa ang maiwanan ng boyfriend o girlfriend kesa ma-impeach ka ng House of Representatives,” she said.
(You know, it hurts more to be left behind by your boyfriend or girlfriend than to be impeached by the House of Representatives.)
Duterte also uttered “God save the Philippines” when asked to comment on her impeachment. However, Cendaña said that if the Philippines needs saving, it should be from Duterte and her family.
READ: VP Sara Duterte told: God save the Philippines from you, your family
In a statement, Cendaña said Duterte’s plea to save the Philippines is “ironic” since she supposedly failed to properly use funds lodged with her offices, and defend Filipinos from China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
A total of 215 lawmakers signed and endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Under the 1987 Constitution, an impeachment complaint could be immediately forwarded to the Senate for a trial if over one-third of all House members — 102 out of 306 — have signed and endorsed the petition.
READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
There were seven articles of impeachment in the verified complaint sent to the Senate:
- Betrayal of public trust, commission of high crimes due to her threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
- Betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption due to misuse of CFs within the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President
- Betrayal of public trust and bribery within the DepEd
- Violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust due to unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets
- Commission of high crimes, due to involvement in extrajudicial killings in the drug war
- Betrayal of public trust due to alleged destabilization plots and high crimes of sedition and insurrection
- Betrayal of public trust due to her unbecoming conduct as Vice President