Maintaining that the Senate impeachment proceedings against her were already mired in controversy due to what she described as repeated instances of "bending the law," Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, Aug. 6, dismissed suggestions that reported developments involving Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa were meant to disrupt her impeachment trial.

Asked whether the reported arrest of Dela Rosa was meant to create confusion in the impeachment proceedings, Duterte, in an interview after attending the Thanksgiving Mass for the Kadayawan Festival at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City, said the trial had already become contentious due to alleged legal irregularities.

"I don't think kailangan guluhin ang impeachment (there is a need to disrupt the impeachment)," Duterte said.

"Napaka-klaro naman yung bending the law diyan sa impeachment na 'yan, simula pa sa House of Representatives, hanggang sa pagkakaroon ng dalawang tao na nakaupo doon sa ano bang tawag diyan? (The bending of the law in that impeachment process is already very clear—from the House of Representatives all the way to the situation where two people are seated on that... what do you call it?) stage, rostrum, or elevated platform," Duterte said.

Duterte maintained that there was no need for anyone to deliberately create confusion because, according to her, the impeachment proceedings were already "marred by bending the law."

"Hindi na kailangan guluhin ang impeachment dahil magulo na siya sa bending the law (There's no need to stir up the impeachment further because it is already muddled by the bending of the law)," she added.

Amid her ongoing impeachment trial, Duterte expressed satisfaction with the lawyers handling her case, thanking them for accepting her defense and commending their dedication.

"Nagpapasalamat lang talaga ako dahil mayroong mga abogado na tinanggap ang aking kaso at (I am truly grateful that there are lawyers who accepted my case and) they are diligent and passionate enough to defend me," she said.

Responding to a question about whether the administration was now targeting her and senators identified with her political camp, Duterte alleged there was a pattern of political persecution against those who oppose President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Well, it shows kung ano yung pinagkakaabalahan ng administrasyon ngayon, ng gobyerno ngayon (what the administration and the government are focused on right now)," Duterte said.

"Pinagkakaabalahan nila ay pulitika dahil nakikita natin na may pattern na hindi lang si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi lang ako, kundi lahat ng hindi sumunod sa Palasyo kay President Marcos ay hinahabol, tinitira, kinakasuhan, hina-harass, tini-threaten (They are focused on politics because we can see a pattern—not only against former President Rodrigo Duterte and me, but against everyone who did not follow Malacañang or President Marcos. They are being pursued, attacked, charged, harassed, and threatened)," she added.

Duterte also said she had received reports that additional cases were being prepared against her and other individuals.

"Narinig namin na may inihahandang pagsasampa ng mga kaso (We've heard that cases are being prepared for filing)," she said.

"Hindi na siguro ito nakapagtataka, batay sa napakarami na nilang isinampang kaso (This is hardly surprising, given the sheer number of cases they have already filed)," she added.

Duterte said her legal team was already preparing for the possibility of new complaints.

"Tulad ng sinabi ko, laban ito sa mga taong hindi sumusunod kay BBM (As I've said, these are cases against people who do not follow BBM)," she said.

"Naghahanda na rin ang mga abogado para sa panahong may bago na namang kasong isasampa (Our lawyers are also preparing for the possibility that yet another case will be filed)," she added.

Meanwhile, Duterte expressed gratitude to her supporters amid the challenges faced by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

She acknowledged that the OVP has encountered difficulties, attributing them to politics, attacks, and obstacles affecting its work.

"Kahit na medyo hirap yung aming organization dahil sa politika, sa paninira, at sa pagpapahirap sa amin para gawin namin yung trabaho namin (Even though our organization is struggling because of politics, attacks, and obstacles placed before us in carrying out our work)," she said.

"Ang aking pagpapasalamat sa taong bayan dahil patuloy ang kanilang pagtitiwala at suporta sa akin, sa aking mga kasamahan at sa Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo (My gratitude goes to the Filipino people for their continued trust and support for me, my colleagues, and the Office of the Vice President)," she added.