CEBU CITY — With nearly a month to go before the start of impeachment trial, Vice President Sara Duterte assured  that her legal team is “more than confident” they will win the case.

“After returning from The Hague, I met with my legal team to discuss the case. They told me they are more than confident about winning the impeachment trial,” Duterte said during an ambush interview in Cebu.

 “I am confident in the lawyers handling my case. That’s all I can say,” she added.

“Hindi ko naman masabi kung ano ‘yung preparations ng mga abogado sa impeachment. Pero nung pag-uwi ko galing The Hague ay nag-meeting kami dahil isa din ‘yun sa mga inaasikaso ko (I can’t really say what the lawyers’ preparations are for the impeachment. But when I got back from The Hague, we had a meeting because that’s also one of the things I’m handling.),” Duterte said. 

“At sinabi nila that they are more than confident in winning the impeachment trial — impeachment case. So ‘yan lang ‘yung masasabi ko (And they said that they are more than confident in winning the impeachment trial — impeachment case. So that’s all I can say.),” she added.

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte on February 5, sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero has scheduled the trial to begin after the May 2025 elections. According to the timeline he proposed in February, the actual impeachment trial is set to start on July 30, after pre-trial proceedings and the swearing-in of newly elected senators who will also serve as judges in the case. 

Public opinion on the impeachment remains divided, according to a February survey by WR Numero. The poll found that 46.7% of Filipinos oppose the impeachment, while 33.3% support it, with approximately 20% still undecided.

The Vice President’s remarks came in response to statements from lawmakers, including La Union District Rep. Paolo Ortega V, who claimed her endorsements of Senator Imee Marcos and senatorial aspirant Rep. Camille Villar were political moves aimed at gaining Senate support ahead of the trial.

Duterte denied the claims, saying her involvement in the midterm elections was prompted by the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague. She called the incident an “extraordinary rendition” and said her endorsements were also in fulfillment of her father’s request to support the “Duter10”— the ten senatorial candidates he backs.