The House prosecution panel expects Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to appear before the impeachment court when her trial opens on Monday, citing her previous statements and the commitment made by her defense team.
House trial spokesman and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution is relying on Duterte’s repeated declarations that she is ready to answer the charges against her in the proper forum.
“Yun po yung sinabi. I think kung di ako nagkakamali, nasabi po ’yan ng defense na kung kinakailangan ay pupunta ang ating Vice President,” he said.
Adiong said Duterte’s attendance would be important not only so she could personally answer the allegations but also to show respect for the constitutional impeachment process.
“Sa atin, talagang kailangan mas maganda na pumunta siya kasi it will send a message sa ating taong-bayan na unang-una ay hindi lang po niya hinaharap personally ang itong mga charges na ito,” he said.
“Pero ito po ay pagpapakita din po ng respeto sa proseso at sa korte bilang isang institution ng kapangyarihan ng ating Konstitusyon na maglitis sa mga kasong impeachable offense,” the lawmaker added.
Adiong also pointed to the Vice President’s earlier pronouncements that she was willing to respond to the charges in the proper forum, saying the impeachment court that will reconvene on Monday is now that venue.
“Yun ang sinasabi nila eh, na handa silang sagutin yung mga kaso sa proper forum. Ito na po yung proper forum na ito,” he said.
He also noted that Duterte had previously used a strong description of what could happen if she attends the impeachment trial.
“In fact, it was described in even more…yung sinasabi po nila, pagsabi po nila, it was even described the way she would actually…na medyo madugo. Kasi sabi po nila, bloodbath,” he said.
Adiong said these declarations came from the Vice President herself and her defense team, and that the prosecution expects them to follow through.