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Evelyn Macairan - The Philippine Star
June 2, 2025 | 12:00am
Vice President Sara Duterte
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said that her remark about a “bloodbath” in her forthcoming impeachment trial was in reference to her own tribulations.
Duterte made the clarification at a press conference on Saturday at The Hague, adding that she viewed the impeachment as political persecution against her, thus her crucifixion.
During a meeting with reporters after a thanksgiving mass in Davao City on May 17, Duterte said “I told them (her legal team) that I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath,” which prompted Palace press officer Claire Castro to comment this was “somewhat violent.”
However, Castro hoped the Vice President was only using a figure of speech and for the statement not to be taken literally.
Duterte believed there were people who misunderstood her use of the word “bloodbath” or that there were people who chose not to understand.
She said, “We have always said that the impeachment is a political persecution. It is the administration going after me after I resigned from the Cabinet.”
“And if it’s a persecution, it’s some sort of crucifixion against me. And so, when there’s a crucifixion, there’s blood. So, it’s a bloodbath. My bloodbath. So, I’m just sad that many people refuse to understand the context wherein I give statements,” Duterte said.
When asked if she believes that the impeachment trial will be fair, she replied, “Of course not.”
Feelings not a priority
Vice President Duterte yesterday said that her and President Marcos’ personal feelings on her upcoming impeachment are not a priority, compared to the government’s actions to provide a better life for the people.
In an interview over the weekend in The Hague, Duterte was asked to comment on Marcos’ call for reconciliation and statement saying that he does not support her impeachment.
She said that Marcos’ view on her impeachment is not a priority.
“As I said yesterday, ‘no our personal feelings and our personal problems… are not important at this point. What are the things that are important at this point is our country, the issues that we face and, of course, our kababayans, ang taong bayan, not just the Philippines, but the Filipino people as well,” Duterte said.
She also admitted that, for millions of Filipinos, the sincerity of Marcos’ offer of reconciliation would only be gauged if his administration would work for her father’s – former president Rodrigo Duterte – return to the Philippines.
When asked for her reaction on Marcos’ appointment of police Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III as the incoming head of the Philippine National Police, the Vice President laughed.
It was Torre who led the arrest of her father last March 11, which eventually led to his transfer and detention to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
One of the Duterte family’s staunchest allies, Sen. Imee Marcos, was at The Hague to meet with the former president late last week, but the ICC barred her from visiting.
Duterte assured Marcos that even if she is not on speaking terms with her brother, the President, “You have a friend in the Office of the Vice President.”
She said she is not forcing their supporters to accept Marcos. However, she took note of the actions the senator was making to bring her father home.
