Palace on Sara Duterte's 'bloodbath' remark: We hope it's just figure of speech

''Medyo may pagka-bayolente ang tugon ng ating Bise Presidente. We hope it's just a figure of speech and it should not be taken literally.'

(The reaction of our vice president seems to be somewhat violent.)

This was the response of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro as regards Vice President Sara Duterte's pronouncement that she wants a bloodbath in her impeachment trial.

"'Kung iyan naman po ang nais niya at talaga naman pong magkakaroon ng balitaktakan kapag nagkaroon ng trial... hayaan na lang po natin itong gumulong,'' Castro added.

(If that's what she wants and there will really be discussions during the trial, let's just allow it to take its course.)

Asked about the Palace's point of view on whose blood should be spilled, Castro only said, ''Hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo patungkol sa ganyang issue.''

(The President will not interfere in this kind of issue.)

She also refused to comment on the statement made by incoming party-list representative Leila de Lima that the Vice President's statement was a toxic rhetoric.

Duterte earlier said that she is looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress because she “wants a bloodbath,'' noting that her legal team is on "full throttle" in their preparations.

The impeachment complaint filed by the House of Representatives includes issues surrounding the use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City, and her “assassination” remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

She has refuted accusations that she repeatedly declined to answer questions about the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds.

The Vice President also maintained that she had attended the House of Representatives hearings and was prepared to participate, however, she said there was no question addressed to her.

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 pointed out 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. 

The trial will begin on July 30. — RSJ/KG, GMA Integrated News