Palace: Better for Sara Duterte to appear in person at impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — It would be better for Vice President Sara Duterte to personally appear at her impeachment trial if she wants to demonstrate her innocence, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Saturday.

“From a lawyer to another, if they believe that their client is innocent and has done nothing wrong, it would be better to demonstrate to the Filipino people and the rest of the world that the Vice President is innocent,” she said.

“If that’s what they want to show, then it would be better for her to be there,” Castro added.

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Castro made the remark on July 3, Canada time, when asked during a Palace press briefing with the Philippine media delegation whether Duterte should personally attend the proceedings after the Senate impeachment court summoned her to appear for the start of the trial on July 6.

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READ: Impeachment court summons Sara Duterte to first day of her trial

According to Castro, personally facing one’s accusers is a right afforded to respondents and defendants.

“She herself previously said that she wanted a ‘bloodbath.’ This is where the vice president can demonstrate her ability to answer the questions being raised against her,” she said.

Prior to making these comments, Castro stressed that the conduct of the impeachment proceedings is entirely within the Senate’s authority and added that the legal strategies of both the prosecution and the defense are matters for their respective teams.

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Meanwhile, asked whether she thought Duterte should appear, Castro reiterated that doing so would give the vice president the opportunity to answer the allegations against her personally.

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The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, ordered the vice president to appear in person or through counsel at her trial, which starts on Monday, July 6.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on May 11 over alleged misuse of public funds, amassing unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education officials, and assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. /das

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