The legal team of Vice President Sara Duterte said it is prepared to defend her before the Senate following the House of Representatives’ decision to formally transmit the Articles of Impeachment.
Lawmakers voted 255-26 in favor of the impeachment, while nine abstained. Among those who opposed the complaint was Paolo Duterte, the vice president’s brother.
In a statement released Monday, Duterte’s defense panel emphasized that it is now up to the complainants to prove the accusations against the vice president.
“We are aware of the action taken by the plenary and with that vote to transmit the Articles of Impeachment, the burden now rests on the accusers to substantiate their claims in accordance with the Constitution, the law, and rules on evidence,” the legal team said.
The lawyers also noted that constitutional issues tied to the impeachment proceedings are still awaiting resolution before the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
“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,” the statement added.
The impeachment report and Articles of Impeachment were presented before the plenary by Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice.
“Hindi po kami narito upang humatol nang pagkakasala, hindi rin kami narito upang magparusa, ang tanong lamang na nasa harap natin ngayon, may sapat bang dahilan upang ipagpatuloy ang paglilitis sa Senado,” Luistro said.
Duterte was initially impeached by the House on February 5, 2025, after more than one-third of lawmakers endorsed the complaint, allowing it to move directly to the Senate for trial.
However, the Supreme Court of the Philippines later declared the first impeachment complaint unconstitutional in July 2025, citing the “one-year bar rule,” which resulted in the dismissal of the case.
Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President after defeating Sen. Tito Sotto in a 13-9 vote, with two senators abstaining.
Cayetano said the leadership change in the Senate was not connected to the impeachment proceedings, describing it as an internal matter within the chamber.
Sen. Bong Go meanwhile said senators must fulfill their constitutional role as judges in the impeachment trial and allow the proceedings to continue to determine the truth behind the allegations.
