VICE President Sara Duterte has firmly ruled out resignation ahead of her upcoming impeachment trial, asserting that she and her legal team have been preparing for a defense since November 2023.

Despite the growing momentum of the impeachment case against her, Duterte made it clear that stepping down is not on the table.

At a press conference on Thursday, February 6, Duterte emphasized that her legal team had already been working on her defense when ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro first announced the impeachment plans in late 2023, particularly centered on allegations of misuse of P125 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President in 2022.

When asked about the possibility of resignation, Duterte remained resolute.

She said she knows the penalties of impeachment.

Even before resigning from the Department of Education, she added she has already “thought about everything”, highlighting that she had thoroughly considered the implications of such a step before making her decision.

Duterte also declined to speculate on whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was involved in the impeachment process.

While acknowledging the overwhelming support for her impeachment in the House of Representatives, Duterte downplayed the significance, saying it was "more hurtful to get dumped by your boyfriend or girlfriend than getting impeached by the House of Representatives."

As the impeachment process moves forward, Duterte remains focused on preparing her defense, while her supporters continue to rally behind her.

The trial will ultimately hinge on the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed for her conviction.

In a brief but emotional statement, Duterte concluded, "God save the Philippines," urging the nation to stay hopeful amidst the turmoil.(CMM)

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• #Vice President Sara Duterte
• #Impeachment
• #Resignation
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• #God save the Philippines