Vice President Sara Duterte is unperturbed by the move of the House of Representatives to impeach her but disclosed that preparations are ongoing for the impending Senate trial.

Duterte said this after 215 lawmakers signed a fourth impeachment complaint reportedly containing six articles of impeachment for her ouster on Feb. 5.

In a press briefing in Mandaluyong City on Friday, Feb. 7, the Vice President said she only had one comment about the development.

"God save the Philippines," she said, because the country is supposedly left behind in terms of its people not having enough money for food, housing, electricity, water, and education.

Asked if she was considering stepping down from her post, Vice President Duterte said that her resignation was not on the table.

"Wala pa tayo doon, Ma'am. Masyado pang malayo ang ganyang mga bagay (We're not there yet. It's too early for that)," she said.

Duterte, however, believed that everything would be "all right," as she told her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

"Nagpadala ako ng message through sa kanyang assistant (I sent the former president a message through his secretary)... I think I said everything will be all right," she said.

Prior knowledge

According to Duterte, they've started preparations for impeachment in 2023.

"We've already started preparing the moment France Castro announced the impeachment plans, which is November 2023," she said.

"So November 2023 there were already lawyers doing their work for the impeachment so we leave it to the lawyers," she added.

The Vice President also revealed that she was informed that the House of Representatives was going to impeach her on Feb. 5 but chose to not do anything about it.

"Que sera, sera (Whatever will be, will be)," she reportedly told her staff.

Meanwhile, she said she respected the Senate's decision to postpone the matter until June 2025.

"That is their prerogative as a body. We have to respect the Senate kung ano yung desisyon nila (on their decision)," Duterte said, adding that she has not talked to her friends in the Senate.

The Vice President, however, said she would not appear in the trial.

"Kung pwede namang hindi, and I understand pwede naman, hindi na (I understand I'm allowed to skip the trial so I won't attend)," she said.

"Kasi baka ma-intimidate lang silang lahat sa presence ko (My presence might just intimidate them)," she added.

No hard feelings

Despite the staggering number of lawmakers who voted in favor of her removal from office, Vice President Duterte said she harbors no hard feelings for any of them.

"Wala akong feelings about it kasi kung napapansin niyo wala naman kasi talaga akong barkada na politiko (I don't have feelings about it because if you will notice I don't have close friends in politics). I don't join their circles but we are friends," she said.

"Kaibigan, yes. But to say na meron akong close, personal relationship with them, wala naman. Kaya siguro ganoon lang din kadali sa kanila ang magdesisyon about the impeachment (Friends yet but I don't have a close personal relationship with them. Maybe that's why it was easy for them to decide on the impeachment)," she added.

Duterte, however, thought that those explaining their reason for signing the petition knew that what they did was wrong.

"If you have to explain or defend your signature in a yes petition for impeachment, then you feel that you have done something wrong," Duterte said.

"Kasi kung wala ka namang ginawang mali, bakit mo i-defend yung pirma mo (Because if you think you did what is right, then why defend your signature)?" she added.

Defense team

Vice President Duterte did not disclose the members of her defense team but she said she would let them announce if they wanted to.

She said former president Duterte was welcome to join but would discourage him from leading the team due to his old age.

"He is welcome. He is a lawyer so he is welcome to give his advice, and input in the defense," the Vice President said.

"Because of his age and because of rigorous preparations in an impeachment case, baka sabihin ko sa kanya na 'wag na lang siyang mag-lead (perhaps I'll ask him not to lead). He's already 80 years old this year," she added.

Vice President Duterte said her lawyers have already read the complaints filed against her, including her supposed assassination threat to President Marcos that she denied making.

"I did not make an assassination threat to the President. Sila lang nagsasabi niyan (They're the ones saying that)," she said.

"Sila lang nagsasabi may assassination, sila nagsasasabi may assassin, may gunman (They're the ones making claims about an assassination, an assassin, or a gunman). I did not say that," she added.

Status quo

Vice President Duterte assured the public that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) would continue working despite impeachment preparations. She said they are eager to work with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to promote voter education, particularly on vote-buying and election-related violence.

She added that they had just finished the OVP's planning conference for 2025 and 2026.

Duterte, however, reiterated that the OVP would no longer provide burial and medical assistance as it is not in the budget. Its other programs, on the other hand, would continue.

2028 plans

Vice President Duterte reiterated that her 2028 plans are still being considered pending survey results.

"We are seriously considering but it's difficult to decide without numbers," she said.

"Kailangang malaman yung (We need the) survey and numbers. Next year pa yun, eh (They're not out until next year)," she added.

Message to supporters

Vice President Duterte thanked those who continue to support her amid her impeachment.

"Nais ko na lang ipaabot ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat sa mga kababayan na patuloy na nagdarasal, sumusuporta, nagtitiwala, at patuloy na nagmamahal sa akin (I just want to thank the people who continue to support, trust, love, and pray for me)," Duterte said.

"Manalig kayo dahil sa taumbayan ang tagumpay (Have faith because victory is with the people)," she added.

Duterte, however, discouraged them from airing their support on the streets and asked them to focus on their jobs so they could feed their families.

"Merong mga bata, merong mga kapamilya na nagdedepende sa atin (There are children and family members depending on us)," she reminded her supporters.

"Doon na lang sila sa social media kung saan nakakatrabaho pa rin sila pero nagagawa nila kung ano yung nararamdaman nila na gusto nilang gawin (Use social media so they can still work while doing what they feel they have to do)," she added.