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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara told: You have a father, but you have a nation too

VP Sara told: You have a father, but you have a nation too

Published Mar 26, 2025 07:23 am

At A Glance

  • Vice President Sara Duterte isn't excused from answering her impeachment case just because of her father's crimes against humanity charge before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A181D257-1E4A-4120-83BF-32C61B1079BB.jpegVice President Sara Duterte (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

Vice President Sara Duterte isn't excused from answering her impeachment case just because of her father's crimes against humanity charge before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Thus, said Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the 11 congressmen-prosecutors in the upcoming impeachment trial of the second highest official of the land.

“Being the Vice President, while you have a father to take care [of], you also have a nation to look after and a nation you have to see that you are accountable for your actions,” Defensor in a radio interview Wednesday, March 26.

Vice President Duterte is in the Netherlands. Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is being detained and tried by the ICC for crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Defensor reminded Vice President Duterte that while she would have the chance to defend herself from impeachment charges in a Senate impeachment court that is expected to be impartial, victims of her father’s bloody war on drugs did not have the opportunity to explain themselves in a court because they were denied due process.

"At kaso ito hindi ng isang simple homicide, hindi simpleng murder (And this isn't about simple homicide or simple murder. This is a case of crimes against humanity,” he said.

“Kaya naiintindihan natin ang dinaranas ng ating bansa (That's why we understand what the country is going through. But we do not abandon our duties and responsibilities especially our accountability as the sitting Vice President,” added the Visayas congressman.

The House prosecution team requested Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday, March 25 to require the lady official to answer the impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives last Feb. 5.

House prosecutors conceded that the Vice President can file an answer through her defense panel. However, they would prefer that she is here in the country when her trial starts.

The impeachment trial is expected to begin after President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

Related Tags

International Criminal Court (ICC) Impeachment Sara Duterte lorenz defensor Rodrigo Duterte
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