Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. has renewed his challenge for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to personally face the Senate Impeachment Court, accusing her of relying on media statements and public politics rather than answering allegations under oath.
Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights and serves as an endorser of the fourth impeachment complaint, criticized Duterte’s ongoing strategy of releasing public commentaries while leaving her subordinates and legal team to respond before the tribunal.
“Eh, ang ating Vice President, palaging nagsasalita sa media, pero hindi humaharap sa Impeachment Court o siya’y magsalita sa media na ipaliwanag ang kanyang sarili and trying to play politics with the people, eh, humarap na siya sa Impeachment Court upang maipaliwanag lahat ng mga alegasyon tungkol sa kanya,” Abante said.
While Senate rules do not mandate Duterte’s presence at every hearing, the Vice President has routinely used external platforms to attack the prosecution’s evidence and accuse political opponents of weaponizing the proceedings.
Abante emphasized that Duterte is the sole authority capable of addressing key testimony regarding decisions executed under her direction. The prosecution has already presented former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta and OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio as hostile witnesses, both of whom faced extensive questioning regarding fund releases and administrative approvals.
“Kung talagang hindi dapat ma-impeach ang Vice President, eh, dapat humarap na siya huwag na niyang hayaan pa na humarap doon sa Impeachment Court ay ’yung mga staff niya siya mismo ang sumagot,” Abante stated. “Ngayon, sa akin naman, kung hindi dapat ma-impeach ang Vice President, eh, dapat ang Vice President mismo magpaliwanag ng mga bagay na ito sa Impeachment Court, sa taong bayan.”
He stressed that because testimony directly touches on orders issued at the highest level of the OVP, only Duterte can clear up the remaining questions.
“Siya lamang ang makakasagot niyan. Siya lamang po ang Bise Presidente lang ang makakasagot lahat ng mga allegation na inihagis sa kanya,” Abante added.
The lawmaker acknowledged that the claims remain unproven until the Impeachment Court concludes its review of the complete evidence from both sides and delivers a final verdict.
“Hanggang ngayon, naniniwala po tayo na lahat ’yan allegation until such time na malaman na Impeachment Court, totoo pala ito. Hindi na po allegation ‘yan,” Abante said. “That’s the reason why ako ang akin pong sinasabi palagi, the Vice President kung talagang hindi siya ang mastermind ng lahat ng mga in-accuse sa kanya, humarap siya, ipaliwanag niya.”