MANILA, Philippines — A House prosecutor on Sunday said that Vice President Sara Duterte must face her impeachment trial in person as her absence may pose a signal of evading accountability.
According to Iloilo City Rep. Lorenz Defensor the impeachment trial will give Duterte an opportunity to defend herself and prove her innocence.
“Malaking bagay ’yun kung hindi ka magpapakita lalo na sa isang impeachment trial. Ibig sabihin may iniiwasan ka o may itinatago ka,” Defensor said in an interview in Super Radyo dzBB, as quoted in a statement.
(It is a big deal if you don’t show up, especially in an impeachment trial. It means that you are evading or hiding something.)
“Kung maganda ang depensa niya at makumbinsi niya ang 24 nating senador na hindi siya nagkasala, this is the perfect opportunity for her to do so in front of live, in front of all the Filipinos,” Defensor added.
(If her defense is good and she convinces the 24 senators that she is innocent, this is the perfect opportunity for her to do so in front of live, in front of all the Filipinos.)
The House impeached Duterte last February 5, with 215 lawmakers voting in favor of the impeachment. Among the Articles of Impeachment in the verified complaint sent to the Senate were betrayal of public trust, violating the 1987 Constitution, and graft and corruption.
This includes the alleged illegal use of P612.5 million of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and her leadership under the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Defensor said that the vice president’s presence in The Netherlands for her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) should not set her own legal challenges aside.
“Talagang maiintindihan natin na dapat asikasuhin ng isang anak ang kanyang ama at mabuting pagkakataon din na ang dating Presidenteng Duterte ay mabigyan ng due process at fair trial sa ICC. Ngunit hindi ’yun dapat na maging dahilan para pabayaan ang hinaharap mong isang impeachment trial,” Defensor noted.
(We understand that a child must care for her father and it is a good opportunity that former President Duterte will be given due process and fair trial in the ICC. But it should not be a reason for her to neglect her own impeachment trial.)
While Senate President Francis Escudero previously said that her physical appearance is not mandatory, Defensor noted that her presence will show respect to the impeachment process.
“Ang habol natin dito ay makita na ang isa bang mataas na opisyal ay karapat dapat na manatili sa puwesto o dapat siyang maalis sa kanyang pwesto dahil sa kanyang mga pagkakamali, tulad ng pitong Articles of Impeachment na nakalatag sa aming impeachment complaint,” the solon said.
(We are after how a high-ranking official must stay in her post or if she must be removed from it due to her failure, like the seven Articles of Impeachment in our impeachment complaint.)
Defensor said last Wednesday that the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel is 80% ready for the vice president’s impeachment trial.
In a proposed calendar of the impeachment trial released by Escudero, the convening of impeachment court and oath-taking of incumbent senator-judges will happen on June 3, 2025.
Meanwhile, the trial proper will start on July 30, a few days after the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Source: VP’s trial absence may signal evasion of accountability – Defensor
