The House prosecution panel said Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision to personally attend her impeachment trial will not affect the presentation of its case.
House prosecution team legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said on Saturday that prosecutors will proceed with presenting evidence and witnesses regardless of whether Duterte appears in person or through legal counsel.
“It will not affect how we will present our case. We will still present our evidence, bring to the witness stand all of our witnesses, regardless if she is there or not,” Tolosa said during a news forum in Quezon City.
Tolosa, however, acknowledged the growing public clamor for Duterte to personally face the impeachment court and respond to the allegations against her.
He said while Senate rules allow the Vice President to either appear in person or be represented by counsel, many Filipinos want to hear her directly.
The Senate impeachment court has summoned Duterte to appear at the opening of her impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, at 2 p.m., either personally or through her lawyer.
Meanwhile, Bantay Senado co-convenor Dino de Leon called on the Senate leadership to withhold the salaries and operational budgets of the offices of absentee and suspended senators, questioning the continued use of public funds for staff whose principals are not reporting for duty.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is currently under a 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan over charges linked to the alleged flood control fund anomaly.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has also been absent from Senate sessions since May following reports that the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Duterte’s impeachment trial is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6. Hearings will initially be held every Monday to Wednesday before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 27, and will shift to Tuesdays through Thursdays afterward
