A lawyer for Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday argued that her controversial remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were prompted by the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez.
During the cross-examination of John Mark Calilung before the Senate impeachment court, defense counsel Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa presented portions of Lopez’s virtual press conference, in which she emotionally objected to her transfer to the Women’s Correctional Facility while under detention by the House of Representatives.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Narvasa whether Lopez’s detention was what prompted Duterte to issue the statements that are now the subject of the impeachment article on alleged grave threats.
Narvasa agreed, arguing that the vice president had been subjected to what he described as “systematic oppression” by the House of Representatives.
He said the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability had already begun investigating Duterte and her staff before what he referred to as a “mini-trial,” adding that Lopez had been cited in contempt and detained despite cooperating with congressional inquiries.
Narvasa also claimed Lopez’s lawyer was not allowed to accompany her during efforts to transfer her to the Women’s Correctional Facility.
Hontiveros then asked whether the defense’s position was that alleged grave threats could be excused if there were reasons behind them.
“Your Honor, that is not the point,” Narvasa replied.
