Vice President Sara Duterte stated on Wednesday that “removal from office” is the worst-case scenario she anticipates amid the impeachment complaints filed against her.
In a press conference, Duterte expressed her readiness to face these legal and political challenges, noting she has no plans to leave the country despite her decision to skip for the second time the summons of the National Bureau Investigation (NBI).
“I do not plan to leave the country. I do not plan to hide if there will be a warrant of arrest,” Duterte told reporters.
The NBI is investigating Duterte over allegations of grave threats, among other offenses, following her controversial remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte said she has no plans of leaving the country because of her children. “If I am detained, I want to be able to still see my children. I have no plans of leaving the country to hide,” she said.
The Vice President mentioned her legal team has been preparing to address the impeachment complaints since they received initial information.
“We already have advanced copies of what was filed in the House of Representatives, and they are starting preparatory works right now,” Duterte said.
While she acknowledged the shifting stances of her allies, Duterte expressed confidence in the legal aspect of her impeachment case.
“We are not confident with numbers because impeachment is a legal process and a political activity. So, we are confident with the legal aspect of the impeachment because all the lawyers that I asked to review the initial drafts of the impeachment complaint,” she explained, pointing out that certain elements in the complaints do not qualify as impeachable offenses.
Duterte said her team has conducted an inventory of potential cases that might be filed against her and has begun assembling a workforce of lawyers to handle them. She also revealed they are expecting another impeachment complaint after the two that were filed recently.
