Duterte's wants "Bloodbath" Remark on Impeachment Noted by Palace

 

Palace Acknowledges VP's "Violent" Rhetoric, Expresses Hope for Figurative Interpretation

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has acknowledged the "violent" tone of Vice President Sara Duterte's recent statement regarding the impeachment trial, expressing hope that her remarks were merely a figure of speech and not meant to be taken literally.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Secretary Claire Castro addressed a question regarding the Vice President's comment that she wants the impeachment trial to "pursue because she wants to see bloodbath."

"Medyo may pagka bayolente ang tugon ng ating Bise Presidente (The response of our Vice President had a somewhat violent tone)," Secretary Castro stated. However, she followed this by expressing a more optimistic interpretation of the Vice President's words. "Pero we hope that it is just a figure of speech and it should not be taken literally (But we hope that it is just a figure of speech and it should not be taken literally)."

The Vice President's strong statement has drawn considerable attention and sparked varied reactions across the political spectrum and the public. When pressed for the Palace's perspective on whose "blood should be spilled," Secretary Castro firmly stated, "Hindi po makikialam ang pangulo patungkol sa ganyang issue (The President will not interfere regarding that issue)." This underscores the Palace's intention to remain neutral on the substance of any potential impeachment proceedings.

Furthermore, when asked about the opinion of former Senator Leila de Lima, who described the Vice President's remarks as "toxic rhetoric," the Palace spokesperson declined to offer a direct comment. "Hindi din po tayo magbibigay ng anong open yan patungkol po diyan (We will also not give any opinion regarding that)," Secretary Castro said, maintaining the Palace's cautious stance on the issue.

The acknowledgment of the Vice President's strong language, coupled with the hope for a figurative interpretation, suggests an attempt by the Palace to de-escalate potential tensions arising from the controversial statement. By refraining from further commentary on the specifics or agreeing with criticisms of the Vice President's rhetoric, Malacañang appears to be navigating a delicate situation within the administration.

The impeachment issue remains a sensitive topic, and the Vice President's forceful statement has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the political landscape. The Palace's measured response indicates a desire to avoid further inflaming the situation while acknowledging the impact of the Vice President's words. The coming days and weeks will likely reveal more about the context and implications of her statement and the potential trajectory of any impeachment proceedings.