Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference with the media at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Several House lawmakers on Friday said they were "appalled" by Vice President Sara Duterte's "cavalier attitude" in her first press conference following her impeachment earlier this week.

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Duterte on Friday finally broke her silence after more than 200 House members on Wednesday approved her impeachment. Whether she will be ousted or not will be decided by the Senate, which was mandated to convene into an impeachment court.

Duterte's statement on Friday was brief, but she entertained a number of questions from journalists.

The Q and A was peppered with light moments, with Duterte even joking that a romantic heartbreak was more painful than getting impeached by the House.

'A CONTEMPT FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY' 

Some lawmakers found Duterte's statements and demeanor offensive.

"We, the Makabayan bloc in Congress, are appalled by Vice President Sara Duterte's cavalier attitude towards her historic impeachment... This shows her utter disregard for the gravity of the charges against her and her contempt for public accountability," the bloc said.

The Makabayan bloc is composed of progressive lawmakers ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, who all supported the impeachment of Duterte.

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"Impeachment is not like breaking up with a partner. This is a serious matter of accountability to the people and misuse of public funds," Castro said.

"The Vice President may find it amusing to trivialize her impeachment, but the Filipino people are not laughing," Brosas stated.

"Let us remind the Vice President that impeachment is not a simple Valentine's story. This is about millions of pesos in public funds that cannot be accounted for," Manuel said. 

Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña who also supported the impeachment used Duterte's own statement at the press conference to criticize her.

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"Vice President Sara Duterte’s plea of 'God save the Philippines' is deeply ironic... If anyone should be saying 'God save the Philippines,' it’s the people suffering from her and her family’s corruption, incompetence, and impunity," Cendaña said.

Impeachment prosecutor and Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua said, "Magkita na lang kami sa Senate Impeachment Court. We are ready for her and her antics."  

'YOUNG GUNS': DISMISSIVENESS MAKES HER LOOK ANXIOUS

Members of the ‘Young Guns’, a group of younger members of the House majority bloc, also called out what they said was Duterte’s attempt to play down the seriousness of the impeachment complaint against her.

Taguig Rep. Pammy Zamora, Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega, and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said in a joint statement that “her dismissive remarks only reinforced the perception that she is deeply anxious about the trial ahead.”

They said that, instead of addressing the allegations, Duterte opted to cast doubt on the complainants and on the impeachment process.

“For all her outward defiance, Vice President Duterte cannot escape the reality that this impeachment trial will determine her political survival,” they said.

If convicted by the Senate, which has yet to move to set a date for trial, she would be removed from office and barred from government service.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers meanwhile said he respects Duterte's sentiments even if some people found her attitude "unserious."

"Alam mo kasi siyempre kaniya-kaniya namang pakiramdam 'yan and we have to give it to her kung she's not taking it, ika nga seriously. That's her right," Barbers said.

(Of course, people react to things differently and we have to give it to her if she's not taking it seriously. That's her right)

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Duterte said she has yet to be briefed by her lawyers on the impeachment complaint, but assured supporters that her team is prepared for a potential trial. — with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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