Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team opted to just reiterate its previous stand on her impeachment complaints following a third case that was filed against her on Monday, Feb. 9.

Lawyer Michael Poa, one of Duterte's counsels, said the defense team has "nothing further to add beyond the statement" it issued last week with regards to the third impeachment filed by a group composed of religious members and lawyers, and was endorsed by House Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Rep. Leila de Lima.

"The filing of additional complaints was anticipated by the Defense Team," Poa said.

"For now, we will continue to closely monitor developments and address these complaint[s] through the appropriate constitutional processes," he added.

On Feb. 2, Duterte's defense team already expressed its readiness to "confront" impeachment cases after two groups filed charges against her to seek her removal from office.

It was Duterte's second impeachment case, which came after a one-year ban imposed by the Supreme Court, which declared unconstitutional the first ouster bid made by the House of Representatives in 2025.

“We are prepared to confront these allegations squarely through the proper constitutional processes, confident that a fair and impartial review will demonstrate that the accusations are devoid of both factual and legal basis," her defense team said.

Even Duterte herself, in a video statement on Feb. 5, downplayed the two fresh impeachment complaints by saying it was nothing but "a piece of paper without any evidence." It was also a "politically-motivated" move, she added.

"Noong 19th Congress, binuksan pa nila ang isang 'investigation in aid of legislation' hindi upang lumikha ng batas, kundi upang magsagawa ng isang malinaw na fishing expedition para sa planadong impeachment laban sa akin (In the 19th Congress, they even opened an 'investigation in aid of legislation' not to create a law, but to conduct a clear fishing expedition for a planned impeachment against me)," she said.

Like Duterte’s defense team, Malacañang also reiterated its previous stand on her back-to-back impeachment cases.

“Muli, ang sabi naman po ng Pangulo, kung ano po ang dapat aralin, proseso po ang dapat na manaig, rule of law (Again, just like what the President said, the right process, the rule of law must prevail),” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“At kung mayroong dapat na managot ay dapat pong managot (And if someone needs to be held accountable, he or she must be held accountable),” she added.