In The Hague, VP Sara Duterte thanks supporters for continued trust, concern

THE HAGUE – Vice President Sara Duterte has yet to officially comment on the House of Representatives’ move to impeach her over allegations of corruption and betrayal of public trust.

In an interview in The Hague, Duterte focused her remarks on her supporters and thanked them for continuing to trust her amid the political turmoil surrounding her office.

“Patuloy din ang pagpapasalamat araw-araw sa di tumitigil na suporta, di sila nawawala ang pagtitiwala sa akin at andyan pa rin ang pagmamahal. Kasi nararamdaman ko na di lang sya basic support, kung di mayroon nang pagmamalakasakit. Hindi lahat ng public officials binibigyan ng kababayan natin,” she said on Monday.

(I continue to give thanks every day for the unwavering support, for the trust they continue to give me, and for the love that remains. Because I can feel that it is not just basic support. There is genuine concern and compassion. Not all public officials receive that kind of treatment from our fellow Filipinos.)

On Monday, the House voted 257-25-9 to impeach the Vice President and to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.

Her lawyers said they are prepared to defend her before the Senate, should it convene as an impeachment court.

“While questions of constitutional significance remain pending before the Supreme Court, we are fully prepared to defend the Vice President before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court, where it is incumbent upon the Prosecution to discharge the burden of proof,” Duterte’s defense team said in a statement.

READ: How congressmen voted in VP Sara Duterte's impeachment

Duterte is in The Hague to visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his war on illegal drugs before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She said she updated her father about the latest developments back home, except on matters related to the ICC.

“Okay lang sya. Nabalitaan ko sya sa mga nangyari sa Pilipinas maliban na lang sa kinalaman sa ICC. Majority ng aming pinagusapan ay patungkol sa pag-aasawa, sa marriage,” the Vice President said.

(He’s okay. I updated him about what has been happening in the Philippines except matters related to the ICC. Most of what we talked about was about getting married, marriage.)

“Ang highlight na nag-agree kami dalawa na para magkaroon ng successful na pagsasama, ang mag-asawa kailangan hiwalay ang kanilang kwarto,” she playfully added.

(The highlight was that we both agreed that for a marriage to be successful, husband and wife should have separate bedrooms.) — JMA, GMA News