MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has expressed readiness to face an impeachment trial in the Senate.
In an interview with the media in Davao City on Saturday, the Vice President said her legal team is exhausting all available options to prevent the trial, but she is personally preparing for an all-out confrontation.
“Lawyers, okay naman sila, in full throttle ‘yung kanilang preparations sa impeachment. And, of course, they do not want a trial. As lawyers, alam naman natin ang galawan ng mga abugado. Madami silang paraan sa batas as a legal recourse for their clients,” she said.
“Sinabihan ko na rin talaga sila. I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath talaga,” she added.
The Vice President also stated that she’s already “at peace” no matter the results of the impeachment trial, which is expected to start by July under the new set of senators at the 20th Congress.
“Wala akong expectations of acquittal or a guilty verdict. Basta sa akin lang, tinanggap ko na kung ano iyong magiging verdict, guilty man yon or acquittal, I’m already at peace,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The Vice President also noted that it is “wrong” to start counting the guilty or not guilty votes now since the senators have yet to see the evidence from the prosecutors or the defense.
“So, mali siguro na magbilangan ng boto ng walang trial. Pero ginagawa siya ng publiko. Basta sa akin, tanggap ko kung anong mangyayari, anong magiging ending ng impeachment trial,” she said.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last Feb. 5. The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate on the same day, but the upper chamber took a recess without tackling it./PN
