Bloodbath

VP Sara Duterte said she wants a bloodbath in her impeachment trial.

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She did not explain exactly what she meant by bloodbath. Maybe she was foreseeing a contentious hearing, given the nature of the impeachment charges.

It could well be a bloodbath because VP Sara will be simultaneously facing trial in two courts: the Senate and the "Court of Public Opinion."

The Senate may declare her not guilty of the charges because of the political leanings of the senators. But the public may see her as guilty based on how well the House prosecutors present their case.

The impeachment complaint endorsed by 215 members of the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, 2025, has been transmitted to the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court. A two-thirds majority vote is required to convict and remove VP Sara from office.

The complaint outlines seven articles of impeachment, accusing her of serious misconduct during her tenure as Vice President and previously, as Secretary of Education.

Here are the key allegations against the Vice President:

Conspiracy to commit assassination — Duterte allegedly claimed in a November 2024 press conference that she had arranged for someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, should she be assassinated. This statement is cited as a violation of public trust and a culpable breach of the Constitution.

Misuse of confidential funds: Investigations revealed that VP Sara's offices misused at least P612.5 million in confidential funds. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) allegedly submitted falsified liquidation documents, including receipts with incorrect dates and illegible signatures. These actions are considered malversation and graft.