Birthday gift for Sara Duterte is due process in impeachment–prosecution
MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution team said on Sunday that it is giving Vice President Sara Duterte a birthday gift unlike any other: due process in her impeachment case.
Duterte turned 48 on Sunday.
“Our gift to Vice President Sara is due process — the step-by-step unfolding of procedures so that whatever allegations are raised against her, she can properly answer them,” prosecution panel spokesperson and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said in Filipino in an interview with dzBB radio.
Duterte is facing accusations of misusing confidential funds, bribing Education Department officials to circumvent procurement rules, amassing wealth beyond her declared income, and threatening to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and a former House speaker assassinated if she herself is killed.
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The impeachment trial process began after the Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18 and issued a writ of summons, which was served on Duterte on May 20. She was given a non-extendible period of 10 calendar days to respond to the impeachment case.
Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales said on Sunday that Duterte has until Monday, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., to file her response to the allegations.
“The public is also waiting for her defense — not just on technicalities or procedure, but for a straightforward answer to the allegations in the articles of impeachment,” Co said.
“This is Vice President Sara’s last chance to present her response and her defense,” she added.
The impeachment trial is expected to begin on July 6, with proceedings anticipated to be politically heated as a divided Senate hears the case of a political figure who has emerged as a top contender for the 2028 elections.
At least 16 votes from the 24-member upper chamber are needed to convict her. If found guilty, she would be removed from office and could face a lifetime ban from holding public office.
A scion of a powerful political family with a stronghold in Mindanao, Duterte has declared her plan to run for president in 2028 and is widely seen as a strong candidate after leading early surveys. /mcm
