Guilty or acquittal? VP Sara says she's ready for impeachment trial

DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte said Monday she was ready for whatever the result of her impending impeachment trial at the Senate will be.

"Ang isyu ko lang naman ay ang impeachment. So sinasabi ko na nga na 'yung impeachment naman, kahit anong mangyari diyan—guilty or acquittal—handa na ako sa kung anong mangyari," Duterte told reported in Davao City after she cast her vote for the 2025 national and local elections.

(My only issue is the impeachment. No matter what happens—guilty or acquittal—I'm ready for whatever happens.)

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 congressmen endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

She said that she is leaving all the preparations to her lawyers, but still points them to the "right direction."

"Ina-update lang nila ako sa mga challenges na nai-encounter nila sa kanilang paghahanda. As much as kaya ko, tinutulungan ko sila at sinasagot ko 'yung mga tanong nila. And I point them to the right direction kung saan kukunin ‘yung mga documents for preparations para sa impeachment trial," she added.

(They just update me on the challenges that they encounter in the preparations. As much as I can, I help them and answer their questions. And I point them to the right direction, on where to get the documents for the preparations on the impeachment trial.)

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier released an initial timetable for the procedures related to the impeachment trial of Duterte, setting the tentative start of the trial on July 30.

Based on the provided timeline, the Articles of Impeachment will be presented on June 2 upon the resumption of session. Meanwhile, the convening of the impeachment court and the oath-taking of incumbent senator-judges will be held the following day.

Duterte had filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with urgent application of temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction before the Supreme Court.

She asserted that the House committed grave abuse of discretion by "deliberately" freezing action on the first three impeachment complaints, then violated the constitutionally mandated one-year ban when the fourth complaint was signed by the chamber's majority. — VDV, GMA Integrated News