Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa says Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team is ready for the July 6 start of her Senate impeachment trial and may present reserved witnesses depending on the prosecution’s evidence. (Mark Balmores / Manila Bulletin/file)
Defense team spokesman lawyer Michael Poa said Monday, July 13, that Vice President Sara Duterte's definition of "bloodbath" is that it will be the Vice President herself who will bleed after being put on impeachment trial.
"Ang ibig sabihin nya doon ay yung sariling dugo nya yung tatagas dahil sya yung nagiging subject nitong impeachment proceeding na 'to (What she meant was that it was her own blood that would gush from her because she's the one being subjected by this impeachment proceeding)," Poa said in a press conference held prior to the start of the 4th day of Duterte's trial.
Poa's pronouncement came after House prosecutors seemed unsatisfied with Duterte's response to the ongoing impeachment trial after her last year's pronouncement that she was ready for a "bloodbath" once she would face the allegations against her.
"Sinabihan ko na rin talaga sila (I told my lawyers). I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath talaga (really)," Duterte said in a media interview in May 2025.
House prosecutors said Duterte could not have a bloodbath through proxies and on the sidelines.
Duterte's defense spokesman said she already made it clear that her definition of "bloodbath was actually herself."
She also didn't mean any violence with that, Poa added.
"I guess it was subject to a lot of misinterpretation which is understandable. But I think the vice president has since clarified it," he said.
"When last week, pumunta sya dito, at sinabi nya (she went here and said) she will be bludgeoned di ba?" he added.