Sara still preparing for future ‘bloodbath’
She may not have gotten the bloodbath she wanted in an impeachment trial, but Vice President Sara Duterte is now bracing for any possible impeachment complaint she may face in the remainder of her term.
In an interview with reporters in Davao City on Thursday, Duterte spoke publicly for the first time about her impeachment since the Senate decided to archive the complaint after the Supreme Court declared it was unconstitutional.
“Like I said before, I wanted a bloodbath,” Duterte told reporters in Cebuano, referring to her earlier remark about her looming impeachment trial.
“It means that I wanted all evidence from the prosecution and all evidence from the defense to be shown for everyone to see,” she said. “But unfortunately, that won’t happen for now.”
Despite the Senate’s majority decision, the Vice President was preparing for future impeachment complaints that may be filed against her over the next three years.
2026 to 2028
She said the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment complaint against her was one of the possible scenarios her defense team had prepared for.
“Like I also said before, we have to prepare for whatever possible can happen. Possibly in 2026, 2027 or in 2028, someone would again file an impeachment complaint and that would be another chance [for me] to respond,” Duterte said.
One of the petitioners in the Supreme Court, Davao City councilor and lawyer Luna Acosta, posted on social media photos showing Duterte joining the other petitioners against her impeachment having a thanksgiving celebration at an undisclosed venue.
Also joining was lawyer Israelito Torreon, one of the main petitioners against Duterte’s impeachment.
Interested in refiling
One House member, however, said she may still get what she wished for.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon cautioned Duterte against prematurely celebrating and reminded her that she said she wanted the trial to continue.
“She said it herself. If the bloodbath will not come today, maybe in the future,” Ridon said.
If the Supreme Court affirms its July 25 ruling nullifying the impeachment complaint against her, House members would “definitely be interested” in refiling the same charges against her.
“I think we might be inclined to support it (another impeachment complaint). Because nothing has changed, it’s just the periods. It’s the same evidence we’re talking about,” said Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, chair of the House committee on public accounts.
Ridon noted that if the current 20th Congress would consider the same articles of impeachment — Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612 million in confidential funds, among other high crimes, culpable violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and her alleged assassination threat against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez – “the most important question to the nation and to Congress is whether someone needs to be held accountable (for these).”
