VEEP. Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on July 7, 2026, to meet with her lawyers but does not attend the impeachment trial.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
There are reasons that drove the Vice President to draw 'the line in the sand' and attack the President, her defense team says
Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte was pushed to the edge. This is basically the defense of her lawyers in justifying her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“She and her family were threatened and while her response was unconventional, it was justified. What triggered her response was a question about ‘Operation Romanov,’ which is the plot to eliminate VP Sara and her entire family,” said defense lawyer Mark Vinluan during the impeachment trial’s third day on July 8.
