Impeach court can force ex-sheriff punched by Sara Duterte to testify

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate as impeachment court can compel the court sheriff who was punched by Vice President Sara Duterte to testify, a member of the House prosecutorial team said on Monday.

Atty. Mae Divinagracia made the remark after former Davao City court sheriff Abe Andres appeared to have begged off in his inclusion as witness in the upcoming impeachment trial of Duterte.

In a Facebook post last week, Andres said “it is my position ever since to refuse to comment on the incident.”

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READ: Assaulted sheriff, VP aide, ‘Piattos’ among witnesses

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“Please do not involve me in any PARTISAN political matters,” Andres, who said he has since been appointed as a Human Resource Management Officer of the Supreme Court, said.

But Divinagracia said the invitation of any witnesses they see fit is “purely prosecutorial privilege.”

“The impeachment court has compulsory processes, recalcitrant witnesses could be subpoenaed,” she said.

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Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, also an impeachment prosecutor, echoed her remarks.

“In terms of witnesses, it’s not up for the decision of a witness if they will testify or not,” Diokno said.

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Andres was punched by Duterte when she was Davao City mayor over a dispute in a court-ordered demolition 15 years ago.

House prosecutors said he will be presented to testify on Duterte’s “tendency to inflict violence” in a bid to establish a pattern of violent behavior behind the allegation that she had arranged the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. /das

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