Vice President Sara Duterte or her legal counsel must personally appear before the Senate impeachment court or submit a formal answer under the old impeachment rules, or else a not guilty plea may be entered on her behalf.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution panel and chair of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said this is provided under the earlier Senate impeachment procedures as prosecutors await the final set of rules that will govern the trial.
“Doon sa old rules nakalagay doon dapat uma-appear ‘yung Vice President or counsel niya or kung hindi man, mag-submit sila ng answer. Otherwise, mag-enter ng not guilty plea,” the Manila solon said.
Duterte is facing impeachment charges that include alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.
He said the prosecution has yet to receive the Senate’s finalized amended rules, which continue to be awaited by the panel ahead of the trial proper.
“Kasi noong ina-amend nila ‘yung rules, hindi pa namin nakikita ‘yung kanilang actual rules. In fact, may mga inaantay pa nga rin kami,” he noted.
He also noted that the House prosecution team has not been formally informed of when Duterte is expected to appear before the impeachment court.
“Wala pa kaming natatanggap na formal invitation kung kailan a-appear ‘yung Vice President,” Chua said.
“So ‘yun pa rin ang inaantay namin.”
With Senate procedures still being finalized, the lawmaker said prosecutors are closely watching whether updated rules will clarify how the impeachment trial will proceed, particularly on pretrial matters.
For now, he said the prosecution has only received materials relating to the pretrial conference, which will set the framework for evidence, witnesses, and procedural issues.
He added that any legal disputes over Senate proceedings should first be allowed to develop within the chamber before being elevated to the Supreme Court, stressing that the prosecution is not preempting the Senate’s internal process.
The House prosecution panel is preparing to formally present its case once the impeachment trial begins.