Bloomberg

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday made a surprise visit to the Senate, claiming in a dramatic burst she intends to stand firm despite attacks against her.“In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied, but unbowed,” said the 48-year old Duterte, wearing a green shirt, her campaign color during the 2022 election when she ran with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.The daughter of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte did not answer any questions shouted at her by reporters before heading inside the room where her defense team is camped out.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, in green shirt, arrives before the start of her impeachment trial hearing at the Senate in Pasay, Metro Manila, yesterday.

Her lawyer, Michael Poa, said the vice president does not plan to attend the impeachment trial proper, which started on Monday when senator-judges elected a presiding officer, and both prosecution and defense delivered opening speeches.It is a case that could last months and might either end Sara Duterte’s political career or leave her as the top contender to succeed ally-turned-archrival Marcos as president.

She is accused of plotting to assassinate Marcos, of misusing public funds, bribery and amassing unexplained wealth, charges she has roundly denied.The prosecution was yesterday expected to call officials from the National Bureau of Investigation as witnesses as they zero in on her apparent threat to kill Marcos.In November 2024, Sara Duterte, during an online media briefing, claimed she had hired someone to kill Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former House of Representatives speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin. In a separate remark she made earlier, she also indicated she has considered beheading Marcos.Sara Duterte has since denied making any assassination threats. Marcos is mandated to step down in 2028 after a single term of six years.The proceedings come at a time when the country of 113 million people is contending with elevated inflation and slowing economic growth.Two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, or 16 votes, are needed to convict the vice president.Additional reporting by AP