Vice President Sara Duterte has formally filed her answer before the Senate impeachment court, asking for the dismissal of the case while alleging major constitutional and procedural defects in the Articles of Impeachment.
Her legal team argued that key evidence was not properly attached or disclosed during House proceedings, and submitted a 50-page response with supporting annexes before the deadline.
Spokesperson Michael Poa said the defense is also questioning the admissibility of evidence such as AMLC reports, claiming these were gathered only after their filing of the answer.
Duterte will reportedly avoid media interviews during the proceedings, citing sub judice rules, while maintaining participation in the impeachment process.
Meanwhile, House prosecutors insisted that senator-judges must still perform their constitutional duty despite ongoing legal controversies involving some members of the chamber.
Source: PhilNews24 | June 2, 2026
