VICE President Sara Duterte has formally submitted her detailed response to the Articles of Impeachment against her, laying out her position in a comprehensive 51-page document.
The submission marks her official reply to the complaints filed by the House of Representatives, addressing each charge raised by the prosecution panel and presenting her legal and factual counterarguments.
In her filing, Duterte asserts that the entire impeachment process should be considered invalid and without legal effect. She argues that the proceedings “are void, being attended by evident bad faith and manifest partiality,” claiming that the process was driven by bias rather than adherence to constitutional rules and fair procedures.
According to her, the manner in which the complaint was initiated and advanced violated fundamental principles of due process and the requirements set by law.
The lengthy response goes through each article of the complaint one by one, presenting her side on issues ranging from the use of confidential funds to the allegations of grave threats and betrayal of public trust. She maintains that her actions were within the bounds of her authority and that the accusations against her are unfounded, politically motivated, and lack sufficient legal and factual basis to merit a trial before the Senate.
By raising these objections, Duterte is seeking to have the case dismissed outright even before the main trial proceeds. Her submission signals a firm stance that focuses heavily on challenging the validity of the proceedings themselves, rather than just responding to the substance of the allegations. The document is now before the Senate Impeachment Court, which will consider the arguments presented as it moves forward with the process.
metrosundaily
