Duterte's Defense Team Ready for Senate Impeachment Trial

The Philippine Senate is poised to decide on whether to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Her defense team, in a statement, declared their readiness for the trial, emphasizing the serious constitutional weaknesses of the impeachment process, especially concerning the Fourth Impeachment Complaint. "We reiterate our firm position that the initiation of the impeachment process—particularly the Fourth Impeachment Complaint—suffers from serious constitutional infirmities," the team stated. They further argued that impeachment should not be a tool for political maneuvering, stating, "The impeachment process must never be weaponized to harass, silence, or eliminate political opponents. It is a constitutional mechanism, not a political tool." Adding to the complexity, Vice President Duterte is currently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she will reportedly finalize her defense strategy before presenting the articles of impeachment to the Senate on June 12th. This upcoming trial promises to be a pivotal moment in Philippine politics.