Philippine vice president expects to be 'bloodied but unbowed' by impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, who is being tried by an impeachment court on charges that include threatening the president, said Tuesday that she expected to be “bloodied but unbowed” by the public trial.

Duterte, who has declared her aim to succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in mid-2028, was impeached by the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Marcos’ allies, in May. The 48-year-old lawyer and politician has dismissed the charges against her as political persecution.

Her televised trial by the 24-member Senate, which acts as an impeachment court, started Monday.

On Tuesday it took up the first of four main charges, which accused Duterte of threatening in an online news conference in November 2024 to have Marcos, his wife and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed by an unidentified person if she herself were killed as their disputes escalated.

A video presented as evidence showed the vice president uttering the threat and stressing that she was not making a joke and that the person she asked to undertake the killings agreed to her plan.

In another video shown during the trial, the vice president said she wanted to cut off the president’s head.

“In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed,” Duterte said in a news conference Tuesday at the Senate, where she briefly showed up in casual clothes and rubber shoes to meet her lawyers. She left before the trial resumed.

She refused to take any questions from the media, but in the past, she has denied all the allegations, which include amassing unexplained wealth, misusing confidential funds, corruption, committing bribery and inciting to sedition without providing specific details.

Duterte and Marcos were running mates in the 2022 elections in a whirlwind alliance that combined the vote-getting power of two of the country’s most formidable political dynasties, but the union rapidly fell apart.

Duterte's supporters have accused Marcos and his key aides of politically persecuting her and her senatorial allies to ensure her impeachment and block her planned presidential run.

Meanwhile three senators who support Duterte have been sidelined by other developments.

Two senators have been arrested and detained recently for alleged large-scale corruption and a third went into hiding after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest as a co-conspirator of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president's father, for alleged crimes against humanity.

The charges stem from the killings of thousands of mostly poor suspects in anti-drugs crackdowns ordered by the former president between 2011 and 2019. Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained by the ICC in The Hague, will face trial on Nov. 30.

Justice officials and state prosecutors said the legal troubles of the three senators were based on strong evidence, unrelated to the vice president’s impeachment trial.

Sara Duterte blames Marcos, her father's successor as president, for his arrest last year and his handover to the ICC.

Two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, or 16 votes, are needed to convict the vice president.

A conviction would be a lethal blow to her declared plan to seek the presidency.

Even if she's acquitted, Duterte could still face criminal charges similar to the impeachment charges, including large-scale corruption, which were being investigated by anti-graft prosecutors.

National Bureau of Investigation senior agent John Mark Calilung, right, listens as prosecutor and defense teams speak during the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay city, Philippines on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Pool)

Philippine Senate President Win Gatchalian, ltop eft, and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero talk during the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay city, Philippines on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Pool)

Philippine senator, from left, Mark and his sister Camille Villar and Joel Villanueva look at the projector as documents are shown during the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay city, Philippines on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Pool)

National Bureau of Investigation senior agent John Mark Calilung takes oath as witness during the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay city, Philippines on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Pool) ADDITION: Adds this is Pool.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, center, arrives before the start of the impeachment trial at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay, Philippines Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Noel Celis/Pool Photo via AP)

PARIS (AP) — Liam Rosenior is back coaching in French soccer after Paris FC hired him on a two-year contract on Tuesday.

Paris FC announced Rosenior's arrival in a statement on X and the 41-year-old Englishman spoke in a brief video message.

“I'm so happy to be the coach of Paris FC, I can't wait to get started with the new players,” he said. “It's a fantastic project.”

Rosenior was coach of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg until he left midway through last season to take charge of Chelsea, which handed him a six-year deal but then fired him less than four months into the job amid poor results in the Premier League. Chelsea was also crushed 8-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.

He replaces Antoine Kombouaré at Paris FC. The veteran coach, who did well when taking charge in late February, reportedly fell out with the club over the terms of a new contract.

Paris FC plays at Stade Jean-Bouin, which is literally across the street from Champions League winner PSG's home, Parc des Princes — 44 meters away according to Paris City Hall. Last season saw the first capital city derby in French men’s league soccer since 1990.

Rosenior also experienced Jean-Bouin as coach of Strasbourg.

“I was in this stadium not long ago," he said. "There was a great atmosphere when I has head coach of Strasbourg and I can't wait to sample the atmosphere as the home head coach.”

PSG has been bankrolled by Qatari investor QSI since being taken over in June 2011. France’s richest family, the Arnaults of luxury empire LVMH, bought Paris FC two years ago.

After winning promotion from the second tier, Paris FC finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season and beat French champion PSG twice at home; once in the French Cup and on the last day of the league.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Chelsea's head coach Liam Rosenior applauds supporters after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)