Ortega’s takeaway on Duterte’s statements: She likes 'blood'

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V’s takeaway from Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements on the impeachment trial is that she seems to have a liking for matters related to blood — from bloodbaths to being bloodied.

Ortega, in a press briefing on Wednesday, asked whether Duterte’s favorite drink is Bloody Mary, as she had repeatedly made mention of “blood” in her press briefings.

“She has a penchant for blood; that’s what I have observed. So maybe her favorite drink at the bar is Bloody Mary,” Ortega told reporters. “So that’s my answer, because it was just a one-liner, and then, she moved out. So, it’s open to interpretation.”

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Ortega’s observations were made a day after Duterte, who went to the Senate to meet with her lawyers, made new references to her “bloodbath” statement.

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She had said that while she expects to be “bloodied,” she will be unbowed.

READ: Duterte on impeachment ‘bloodbath’: ‘I will be bloodied but unbowed’

The deputy speaker also pointed out that Duterte’s actions seemed like a clickbait, as she went to the Senate but eventually did not have the intention to attend the trial proper.

“Then, she went out. Again, as I said, I know that she will not attend the hearings, so maybe she just wanted people to feel her presence,” Ortega noted. “It’s like clickbait: When you clicked, there was a different content and intent.”

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“So that’s it. She likes blood,” he observed.

Turning serious, prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that it has been the view of the House that the impeachment trial is the perfect chance for Duterte to address and dispute the allegations hurled at her.

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“The House prosecution panel has been saying for a while now that this is the perfect venue for the respondent to clear her name,” Adiong suggested.

“If the defense truly believes that she has that, they have the answers in order […] for her for the respondent to clear her name, this is the perfect opportunity to do so,” he repeated.

The first time that Duterte mentioned something about blood, in relation to the impeachment proceedings against her, was in a thanksgiving mass in Davao City last May 2025.

According to Duterte, she is eager for a “bloodbath” once the impeachment trial for the first set of complaints starts at the Senate.

However, trial did not happen back then as the Supreme Court declared the first impeachment attempt as unconstitutional, based on a petition filed by Duterte herself.

READ: VP Duterte on impeach trial: ‘I want a bloodbath’

Several lawmakers and lawyers supportive of Duterte’s impeachment poked fun at the vice president’s alleged contradicting statements, as she wanted a bloodbath but supposedly moved to avoid it.

READ: VP Sara’s reply not the bloodbath we were expecting – prosecution spox

Last March, House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima asked Duterte twice as to where her aspiration for a “bloodbath” is as her statements back then allegedly show a bid to evade accountability.

De Lima said that instead of answering the questions and issues hurled against her, Duterte is diverting the discussion by questioning moves to protect documents and witnesses that may be vital to the impeachment proceedings.

READ: Where’s ‘bloodbath’ now? De Lima says Duterte scared of impeachment

On Tuesday, House prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said that Duterte should personally face the impeachment court, saying that she is very much welcome to attend the bloodbath.

Ridon told Duterte that it is not possible to participate in a bloodbath, but at the same time field proxies for her. /apl

READ: Welcome to the ‘bloodbath:’ Ridon urges VP Duterte to face trial herself

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