“God save the Philippines.” This was the only statement that Vice President Sara Duterte gave after the House of Representatives moved to impeach her from her seat in office.
On Friday, February 7, Duterte spoke to the media about the impeachment case two days after the verified impeachment complaint was transmitted to the Senate. Despite this, Duterte gave an unexpected statement on the matter.
According to her, people have been asking for her reaction, comment or sentiments on the impeachment case against her. Despite this, she gave an unexpected declaration.
“Sa kabila ng aking mga naging pahayag ukol sa planong impeachment sa mga nakaraan na buwan, ang tanging masasbi na lamang sa puntong ito ay, God save the Philippines,” she said.
“Bukod dito, nais ko na lang ipaabot ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat sa aking mga kababayan na patuloy na nagdarasal, sumusuporta, nagititiwala, at patuloy na nagmamahal sa akin. Manalig kayo dahil sa taumbayan ang tagumpay,” she continued.
VP Sara on the Impeachment Case
Duterte mentioned that she became aware of the penalties of impeachment before she resigned as the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary; adding how she had already thought of everything.
An impeachment case against Duterte had long been a recurring matter among lawmakers. In 2024, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability began its probe into the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) use of confidential funds.
During the press briefing on Friday, the attention was shifted from Duterte’s impeachment case to Philippine society. Reiterating her sentiments from last year’s Congress hearing, she cited what she believes to be the main issue in the country.
“Gaano kalala ang [problema sa] Pilipinas?”
“Gaano kalala ang [problema sa] Pilipinas? Napag-iwanan na tayo ng panahon at ng [mga] kapitbahay dito sa region, at napag iwanan na tayo ng mundo,” she said.
According to Duterte, bigger problems loom in Philippine society. She mentioned how Filipinos struggle to make ends meet daily; adding how people struggle to find enough money to budget bills and other necessities for their families.
“Kung basehan natin yung pag-alis ng mga Pilipino sa sarili nilang bansa, ay sobrang malala dahil sobrang dami ng ating mga kababayan ang pumupunta [at] nakikipag sapalaran sa ibang bansa dahil wala silang makita na pag-asa, wala silang makitang oportunidad dito sa ating bayan,” she said.
Duterte previously expressed in a House inquiry in September 2024, that a case for her impeachment as vice president is not the nation’s main problem; but rather other challenges like healthcare, terrorism, hunger, poverty, and many others.
On Wednesday, 215 lawmakers signed the endorsement of Duterte’s impeachment complaint, which was transmitted to the Senate on the same day.
Some grounds that the House based the complaint on were the betrayal of public trust, the culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption and other high crimes.
