The 46-year-old said in her first public comments since the country’s House of Representatives approved the impeachment this week that her lawyers are now in charge of the case, adding that Rodrigo Duterte, 79, former president and lawyer, is “here to join her defence team if he wants to.”
“The legal team is still preparing the defence and (deciding) what we will do moving forward”, she said, adding she had yet to read the charges against her and urging supporters to “have faith” that she will be victorious.
Duterte claimed that she had not considered resignation. “We’re not there yet”, the vice president said, adding that the potential to run for president in 2028 remains firmly on the table.
“We are seriously considering that, but it’s difficult to decide without numbers, so we have to know the surveys and numbers, but that’s still for next year”, she said.
On Wednesday, the lower house of the nation impeached Duterte, accusing her of a culpable violation of the constitution, corruption, and putting lives at risk for first lady and speaker of the lower house.
She has denied any wrongdoing, and on Friday reiterated that she had made no assassination threat.
The Senate must now decide whether to oust her from office. She must receive the verdict and be expelled from her position without the consent of two-thirds of senators present at the trial.
Duterte said to reporters that she had no idea how many votes would be cast for an acquittal.
Source: Aljazeera
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