House impeachment prosecutor and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno said Vice President Sara Duterte should personally explain before the Senate impeachment court the statements cited in the impeachment charge involving alleged threats against top government officials.
Diokno, however, clarified that the decision on whether Duterte will testify rests with the Vice President and her defense team.
“Nasa sa kanya po ’yan. That’s the call of her lawyers and herself,” Diokno said when asked whether Duterte should take the witness stand to answer allegations that she threatened President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“However, I think that for the court to have a full appreciation of what she is claiming, then the court, I think, would benefit from hearing her explain personally why she said those things that we all saw,” he added.
Diokno said the prosecution is prepared to cross-examine Duterte if she decides to testify.
“That’s entirely the call of her defense panel. But we are ready to cross-examine her if she comes out and testifies,” he said.
He also noted that Duterte had been invited to attend the House Committee on Justice hearings on the impeachment complaints but did not appear.
“Maski noong Committee on Justice proceedings, if you recall, every time nagkaka-hearing, ina-invite ng committee si Vice President,” Diokno said.
“At ito na rin ang pagkakataon niya na ipaliwanag ’yung kanyang mga depensa at ’yung mga sinasabi nga niya sa media pa lang so far,” he added.
Private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the impeachment rules cover not only the filing of an answer but also the respondent’s appearance before the Senate impeachment court.
Tolosa said Duterte has already complied with the requirement to file her answer, but the impeachment court has yet to require her personal appearance.
“And just to clarify, under the rules, it’s expressly stated there that the impeachment court shall require the respondent to both file an answer and appear in court,” Tolosa said.
“So far, in the issuances of the impeachment court, that second part, requiring her to appear, has not been done. So we will wait for the impeachment court when it will find it appropriate to require her to do so,” he added.
Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment accuses Duterte of contracting an assassin, making grave threats against the country’s top officials, and inciting sedition.
In her answer, Duterte invoked freedom of expression in response to the allegations.
The Vice President also faces impeachment allegations involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery of Department of Education personnel, and unexplained wealth.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to begin trial on July 6.