Sara Duterte: Fight vs impeachment bid is ‘right, true’

VP Sara Duterte impeachment composite image from Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte maintained that her fight against the bid to impeach and remove her from office was “right and true.”

“The attacks are cowardly yet openly disingenuous and arrogant. [It is] absent of basic human decency and respect for the rule of law, typical of people drunk in power,” Duterte said at an event with overseas Filipinos in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

“But, we remain standing because what we are fighting for is right and true. We remain strong, steadfast and grounded in truth, integrity and faith in the hand of God that will move in ways we cannot comprehend at this point,” she added.

The vice president is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes, particularly her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

The Senate, convened as the impeachment court, returned the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the House last Tuesday.

READ: Impeachment court sends Sara Duterte case back to House

The move aimed for the House to certify that the complaint against Duterte did not violate the once-a-year limit to impeachment proceedings against a public official and communicate that the 20th Congress will still pursue the process.

If two-thirds of the senator-judges find Duterte guilty, she will be removed as vice president and barred from ever running for office again, dashing any hopes of a 2028 presidential run.

Despite this, Duterte insisted, “We can win this despite the threats, intimidation, abuse and ferocity. Remember that nothing can stand in the way of a united people.”

READ: Sara Duterte joins Filipinos in Malaysia to mark Independence Day

Duterte was in Malaysia for a “personal visit,” her office said last Tuesday.

While in Malaysia, she attended an Independence Day event with Filipinos there on Thursday. /das