VP Sara ready to face new impeachment bid

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte is ready to face another impeachment complaint that may be filed against her next year, her defense team spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Atty. Michael Poa said Vice President Duterte is prepared to respond to the allegations should a new complaint arise.

"In fact, we were ready to go to trial. Si Vice President nga mismo — maulit ko lang — sabi niya, talagang gusto niyang sagutin, face on, head on, 'yung mga alegasyon. And kami naman sa defense team, we've been preparing all throughout since February and we can say that we were ready," Poa said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita.

"We're still monitoring the situation right now. Tingnan natin 'yung mga developments at kung dumating man ang pagkakataon na there will be another impeachment, for example, sabi nga nila, after the subject of the one-year bar, we will be ready to also face those allegations," he added.

Poa said they knew from the beginning that the fourth impeachment complaint was unconstitutional, which prompted them to file a petition for dismissal before the Supreme Court.

"We were very optimistic nung nag-file kami ng aming petition kasi nandun tayo sa posisyon na talagang unconstitutional 'yung fourth impeachment complaint na naging articles of impeachment dahil nga dun sa one-year bar rule," he said.

"In fact, 'yun naman ang naging focus ng ating petition talaga and siyempre, nagpapasalamat din po kami na na-appreciate naman 'yung mga arguments natin doon," the defense team spokesperson added.

He also clarified that the Supreme Court ruling does not mean that the Vice President is acquitted, and that the accusers can still file another set of articles of impeachment against her in 2026.

"In fact, dun sa mismong desisyon ng Supreme Court, sinabi rin naman ng Korte Suprema na it doesn't absolve. Kasi ang kinu-question dito, at least in our position, was really 'yung proseso ng pag-initiate ng impeachment," Poa said.

"So, pagdating sa merits, hindi po — kasi talagang nasa Senado po 'yan, sitting as an impeachment court, pagdating sa merits. Kaya kahit po sa petition namin, we never brought any issue up in terms of merits, 'yung mga alegasyon. It's really more of the process na nangyari, na nakita nating may paglabag sa Saligang Batas," he added.