Sara Duterte says she won’t resign, cites mandate of 32.2 million voters

National

“OH, never gonna happen.”

Vice President Sara Duterte ruled out resigning from office as her impeachment trial in the Senate gets underway, saying she would not abandon the mandate given to her by the 32.2 million Filipinos who voted for her.

In a brief, undated interview posted on the Padayon & Updates Facebook page, Duterte said resignation was not an option and described stepping down as a betrayal of her supporters. She also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could pursue efforts to remove her from office if he wanted her out.

“If PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) wants, he could try to do everything to remove me from office,” she added, according to a report by Philstar.

The Senate impeachment court is handling four articles of impeachment against Duterte involving alleged misuse of funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats. The court has also subpoenaed her bank, tax and Anti-Money Laundering Council records as part of the proceedings.

Duterte made the remarks while abroad after meeting with overseas Filipino communities. She was in The Hague last week before traveling to London, where she addressed mostly Filipino migrant workers during the “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas: Pagtitipon para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran” event on Saturday.

During her London visit, Duterte criticized what she described as the presence of “crocodiles” in government, claiming that some officials who gain power eventually prioritize personal interests. She said those who refuse to align with such figures are often treated as opponents and face consequences, which she described as a reflection of the country’s current situation.

She also questioned why working abroad has become a common goal among Filipinos, saying the government should create more opportunities at home so citizens would not be forced to leave their families.(MyTVCebu)