Sara Duterte’s cool demeanor amid impeachment just a facade 鈥� lawmakers
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the members of the media and answers questions during a press conference at the OVP Central Office in Mandaluyong City on Friday, February 7, 2025. Arnel Tacson, 黑料社
MANILA, Philippines — Young lawmakers from the House of Representatives have claimed that Vice President Sara Duterte’s seemingly cool demeanor while discussing her impeachment is just a facade as her statements only reinforce the belief that she is anxious over the issue.
In a joint statement on Friday, Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega, and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said Duterte’s reactions lacked substance and showed a very defensive tone.
According to the four lawmakers who are part of the House’s Young Guns bloc, Duterte’s attempt to dismiss the issues against her shows that she is anxious about her impeachment trial in the Senate.
“Vice President Sara Duterte’s press conference on Friday, February 7, was meant to downplay the seriousness of the impeachment complaint against her. Instead, her dismissive remarks only reinforced the perception that she is deeply anxious about the trial ahead,” the lawmakers said.
“Her statement, lacking substance and punctuated by vague, defensive quips, failed to address the grave allegations against her. She did not offer a direct rebuttal to the charges but instead framed the impeachment as a premeditated effort dating back to late 2023. Rather than discussing the case’s legal merits, she simply deferred the matter to her lawyers and implied that proceedings had not yet advanced beyond the initial stages,” they added.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the four lawmakers, Duterte’s attempt to brush away the points of discussions raised in the Articles of Impeachment showed “an underlying fear, poorly disguised as indifference.”
Article continues after this advertisement“Vice President Duterte also sought to undermine the legitimacy of the impeachment complaint by casting doubt on the lawmakers who signed it. Instead of addressing the accusations, she insinuated that the need for these lawmakers to justify their signatures was itself an admission of wrongdoing. This response, however, only further exposed her unease over the scale of the impeachment process and the growing scrutiny of her actions,” they said.
“Her attempt at nonchalance cannot mask the reality of the situation. Her statements reflected an underlying fear, poorly disguised as indifference. The overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives has already found probable cause for impeachment, and now the Senate must fulfill its constitutional role in determining her political fate,” they added.
During her press briefing on Friday, Duterte appeared to be in high spirits despite the House’s decision to impeach her last Wednesday.
READ: VP Sara Duterte: Losing a partner more painful than being impeached
“Alam niyo, mas masakit pa ang maiwanan ng boyfriend o girlfriend kesa ma-impeach ka ng House of Representatives,” Duterte said.
(You know, it hurts more to be left behind by your boyfriend or girlfriend than to be impeached by the House of Representatives.)
She also uttered “God save the Philippines” when asked to comment on her impeachment.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said that if the Philippines needs saving, it would be from Duterte and her family.
READ: VP Sara Duterte told: God save the Philippines from you, your family
A total of 215 lawmakers signed and endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint.
Earlier, House officials confirmed that the number had swollen to 240 after 25 more lawmakers expressed support for Duterte’s impeachment.
Under the 1987 Constitution, an impeachment complaint could be forwarded directly to the Senate for trial if over one-third of all House members — 102 out of 306 — sign and endorse the petition.
READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
According to the lawmakers, Duterte’s impeachment is a “defining moment for Philippine democracy.”
“The Senate’s decision will set a precedent: It will either reaffirm that no one is above the law or send the message that high-ranking officials can act with impunity. The people are watching. How the Senate votes will be remembered—not just in history books but in the minds of every Filipino demanding accountability,” they said.
“Vice President Duterte’s press conference may have aimed to project confidence, but in reality, it exposed her fear. Her ‘non-statement’ was not the response of an official certain of her innocence but of someone bracing for an inevitable reckoning. The impeachment trial is no longer a matter of speculation—it is happening, and she must face it,” they added.
