Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Friday that her legal team is preparing for her upcoming impeachment trial, but she declined to comment on whether resignation is an option to avoid a potential conviction that could prevent her from running for president in the future, reports AP.

Duterte's remarks came after the House of Representatives impeached her on Wednesday, citing various criminal charges, including an alleged plot to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated, which she denied. Marcos, who was her running mate in the 2022 elections, has since had a bitter fallout with Duterte.

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During a news conference, she highlighted the economic difficulties facing Filipinos, noting that the cost of living has risen significantly. "God save the Philippines,” she said, urging her supporters to express their views on social media rather than holding street protests to avoid disrupting their lives.

A conviction and subsequent disqualification from office would be a severe blow to one of the country's most influential political families, which is seen as aligning more with China. The impeachment complaint, according to its proponents, revolves around alleged threats to Marcos, misuse of government funds, and Duterte's failure to confront Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The Senate is expected to address the case in June.

While Marcos has strengthened defence ties with Washington, Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, cultivated close relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, all while hinting at ending U.S. military engagements in the Philippines.

When asked about the possibility of resignation, Duterte did not provide a clear answer, saying, "We're still too far from those matters,” and mentioned that many lawyers have offered to defend her in the impeachment process.

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She confirmed that she is still considering a presidential run in 2028 but emphasized the need to evaluate her chances carefully, as her approval ratings have declined in recent independent surveys, though she is still regarded as a top contender. "We're seriously considering that but it's difficult to decide without the numbers," she said.