Vice President Sara Duterte should use her birthday to directly answer the allegations against her by taking part in the impeachment process, the House trial spokesperson said Sunday.
The process gives Duterte the chance to respond before the Senate impeachment court and confront long-standing calls for accountability.
“Well, sagutin sana ang wish ng taumbayan sa kanyang kaarawan ang matagal nang hinahanap sa kanya, ‘yung pagharap sa proseso ng pananagutan,” House trial spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said in a radio interview.
She said due process is the “gift” being offered to the vice president, allowing her to answer the accusations in the proper constitutional forum.
“Despite everything that’s happening, ang gift natin kay VP Sara ay ‘yung due process, ‘yung pag-iisa-isa ng mga hakbang sa proseso para kung anumang alegasyon laban sa kanya ay masagot po niya nang maayos,” she remarked.
The trial spokesperson said the public is waiting for a substantive defense, not merely procedural arguments or technical objections.
“Pinanghahawakan po natin ang sinasabi niya na magsusumite siya ng sagot. Hinihintay na rin po ng taumbayan ‘yung depensa niya na hindi lang po teknikalidad lang o procedural pero ‘yung straightforward answer to the allegations, to the articles of impeachment,” she noted.
Duterte’s legal counsels have said she will answer the allegations during the impeachment trial, which they maintain is the proper venue for her defense.
The vice president is expected to file her answer on June 1, the deadline set by the Senate impeachment court. She received the writ of summons on May 20 and was given 10 days under Senate rules to respond.
After her answer is filed, the House prosecution panel will have five days to submit its reply. The Senate is then expected to set the schedule for the pre-trial conference and trial proper.
The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of alleged confidential fund misuse amounting to P612.5 million, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats against top government officials.
During the trial, prosecutors and the defense will present evidence and witnesses before the Senate impeachment court. At least 16 of the 24 senator-judges are needed to convict.
A conviction would remove Duterte from office and permanently disqualify her from holding any public post.