Diokno: Filipinos eager for Duterte’s response to impeachment case

MANILA, Philippines – Many Filipinos are eager to hear Vice President Sara Duterte address the allegations against her in her impeachment case, public prosecutor and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno said on Sunday, as her trial draws near.

He said Duterte’s impeachment trial gives her a pivotal platform to rebut the accusations of corruption and constitutional violations — charges that the House of Representatives deemed serious enough to send to the Senate.

READ: Groups oppose Escudero return as Sara Duterte trial presiding officer

Article continues after this advertisement

“The people have long been waiting for this,” Diokno told dzBB radio in Filipino. “The impeachment case began in the House committee on justice, and until now, we are still waiting for what the vice president herself will say about it.”

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Duterte, 48, faces allegations that she misused secret funds allotted to her office, bribed officials to circumvent procurement guidelines, amassed unexplained wealth, and plotted to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she was killed.

Impeached by the House on May 11 after 257 lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed those charges for trial in the Senate, Duterte has steered clear of addressing the allegations directly, with her camp focusing on how her case was handled rather than offering a substantive defense.

“Now, when the trial itself begins, that should be the vice president’s opportunity to appear and present her evidence and arguments,” said Diokno.

His remarks come as the impeachment case is in its pre-trial phase, with the 11-member prosecution panel and Duterte’s defense team working to simplify the issues fueling the ouster charges, the stipulation of facts for the case, the marking and introduction of evidence and witnesses, their order of presentation, and the scheduling of trial dates.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Senate on track for July 6 start of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial – Bantug

The trial is expected to start on July 6, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said last week.

Article continues after this advertisement

Diokno said Duterte’s impeachment case should be judged on its merits and evidence, not political leanings, as he urged the senators to hear the case free of bias.

“The Senate’s impeachment rules require all senator-judges to observe political neutrality,” he said in Filipino. “This means no political color should enter their hearings or decisions.”

“As judges, they must be impartial and objective. This means their mindset should be fair,” he added.

The impeachment rulebook, which establishes the framework for political impartiality, is intended to preserve public trust in the proceedings, Diokno said, especially as the Senate prepares to hear the politically divisive case.

He said the House prosecution team is not counting potential votes in the Senate but is instead focused on presenting a compelling case against Duterte.

“For the prosecution, our focus now is to lay out the evidence clearly,” Diokno said. “We are not thinking about the vote count. Our only purpose is to make our presentation of evidence convincing and persuasive.” /mcm

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.