Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers argued during her impeachment trial that her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were unconventional but justified due to threats against her family.
On July 8, 2026, during the third day of the impeachment trial, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan said Duterte was not acting as vice president but as a wife, mother, daughter, and sister who sought to protect her family. He cited an alleged Operation Romanov plot to eliminate Duterte and her family, along with threats to Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez.
Vinluan added that Duterte suffered various threats and harassment after leaving the administration, culminating in her November 2024 statement. He said she drew a line in the sand and that her response, though unconventional, was justified and not an impeachable offense.
The prosecution disagreed, with House prosecutor Joel Chua stating there was no explanation at all. NBI witness John Mark Calilung maintained that the threats were absolute and not conditional.
