The House prosecution panel on Tuesday asked the Senate impeachment court to require Vice President Sara Duterte to testify during proceedings on the impeachment article involving alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan told the impeachment court that Duterte would be a key, albeit hostile, witness in the presentation of Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which covers allegations of assassination plot, grave threats and inciting to sedition.
Kapunan said the prosecution intends to file a written request asking the court to require Duterte’s appearance.
In response, impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said the impeachment rules do not require the respondent to personally attend the trial, noting that Duterte is already represented by counsel.
Escudero said the court would only consider the matter after the prosecution formally files its request.
“The impeachment rules do not mandate nor require the respondent to attend any hearing or trial of the impeachment court,” Escudero said.
The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday is hearing Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which stems from Duterte’s November 2024 online press conference in which she said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
Among the witnesses expected to testify are Jeremy Lotoc, John Mark Calilung and Belinda Bello.
