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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara welcomes dad Rody in defense team, but says he's not lead counsel

VP Sara welcomes dad Rody in defense team, but says he's not lead counsel

Published Feb 8, 2025 01:27 am

While Vice President Sara Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives, has welcomed former president Rodrigo Duterte in her legal team, she said that he could not be lead counsel because of his age.
 

PRRD_VPSD.jpgVice President Sara Duterte and former president Rodrigo Duterte (Photo from the House of Representatives)

 

During a press conference on Friday, Feb. 7, the Vice President shared plans about her preparation for an impeachment trial before Senate.
 

“Well, he is welcome. He is a lawyer, so he is welcome to give his advice, input, in the defense,” she said when asked about the elder Duterte’s presence in her legal team.
 

Her father, the Vice President noted, will be turning 80 years old next month.
 

“He will… maybe he wants to, he can be part of the defense team, but because of his age, and because of rigorous preparations in an impeachment case, baka sabihin ko sa kanya na huwag nalang siyang mag-lead (I might tell him no to lead anymore),” she said.
 

The official also shared how she assured the former chief executive not to worry about her getting impeached by the lower house.
 

“Wala pa but nagpadala ako ng message through sa kanyang assistant, and sinabi ko na, ano ba sinabi ko? Di ko na maalala (Not yet, but I sent a message through his assistant, and I said, what did I say? I cannot remember). I think I said, ‘’everything will be alright’’, iyan ata ang sinabi ko (that’s what I said). His reply was a song,” she shared.
 

The song was “MacArthur’s Park,” and it was the former president himself who sang the song to her via a video.
 

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on Wednesday, Feb. 5, after 215 lawmakers signed the fourth impeachment complaint filed against her.
 

That number is now at 240 after 25 more lawmakers signed the complaint.
 

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate on the same day, but the upper chamber took a recess without tackling the issue. The Senate will resume session in June.
 

In the verified complaint sent to Senate, there were seven Articles of Impeachment—betrayal of public trust for an assassination threat against President Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption due to the misuse of public funds, betrayal of public trust and bribery within the Department of Education (DepEd), violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust due to unexplained wealth, commission of high crimes due to involvement in extrajudicial killings, betrayal of public trust due to alleged destabilization plots, and betrayal of public trust due to her unbecoming conduct as Vice President.

Related Tags

House of Representatives Impeachment Sara Duterte Rodrigo Duterte
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