Sara says she will comply with summons

Vice President Sara Duterte said she will comply with the Senate impeachment court’s summons, adding that her defense team is preparing their response.

Duterte has 10 days to reply to the summons.

"Napag-usapan namin 'yan ng aming mga defense council at pinag-uusapan din nila ngayon kung paano nila gagawin 'yung pag-comply sa summons ng Senate (We discussed that with our defense council, and they are also currently talking about how they will comply with the Senate summons)," the Vice President said in an ambush interview in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, 12 June.

In her speech during the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Duterte—who was joined by Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla—slammed the impeachment proceedings against her.

"Napanood niyo ba ‘yung speech ni Senator Imee sa Senado? Iyon po ang kabuuan ng explanation ng sinasabi ko. Hindi ko po napanood pero panoorin niyo. Marami ang nagsabi sa akin na naipalawanag niya ng maayos kung ano ba yung nangyayari sa impeachment na ginagawa (Did you watch Senator Imee's speech in the Senate? That is the full explanation of what I’m saying. I haven't watched it myself, but you should watch it. Many have told me that she explained well what is really happening with the impeachment process)," she told overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia.

"The attacks are cowardly — yet openly disingenuous and arrogant, absent of basic human decency and respect of the rule of law — typical of people drunk in power," the Vice President added.

Duterte said she remains standing to fight for what is right and true.

"We remain strong, steadfast, and grounded in truth, integrity, and faith that the hand of God will move in ways we cannot comprehend at this point. Justice bends to the truth, and we are ever more resolute in our fight for the Philippines," she said.

"At naniniwala akong maipapanalo natin ang laban na ito dahil laban natin itong lahat. Maipapanalo natin ito sa kabila ng mga banta, pananakot, pagmamalabis, at bangis (And I believe we can win this fight because this is a fight for all of us. We can win despite the threats, intimidation, abuses, and ferocity)," the Vice President added.

On 5 February, the House of Representatives impeached the Vice President, with 215 lawmakers voting in favor to adopt the articles of impeachment against her.

She stands accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes over, among other things, the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she had concurrently headed.