MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said that she wanted the impeachment trial against her to proceed so that she could answer the allegations against her.
Duterte’s statement comes after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which said that 88 percent wanted the vice president to face trial.
In an interview with reporters and supporters outside the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands, where Duterte visited her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president said she agreed with the observations of those who were surveyed.
“Oh, I totally agree. Kasama ako doon sa 88 percent na iyan na nagsasabi at ako ay parang thankful sa opportunity na malinis iyong pangalan ko at masagot iyong mga akusasyon sa akin (I am part of the 88 percent who said that and I am thankful for the opportunity to clean my name and answer the accusations against me),” Duterte said.
This is not the first time Duterte showed eagerness for the impeachment trial to proceed, saying in an earlier interview that she wants the impeachment trial to happen as she wanted a “bloodbath”.
She also said that she was not affected by the news that the Senate reset the reading of the articles of impeachment from June 2 to June 11, the last day of session for the 19th Congress.
Speaking in Filipino, Duterte said she thought how the delay would affect her case but added that it was best for her lawyers to determine that.
Duterte was impeached at the House of Representatives early this year and the articles of impeachment had been turned over to the Senate, which was expected to convene into an impeachment court.
