VP Sara Duterte not keen on attending her impeachment trial

Vice President Sara Duterte — GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is not keen on attending her impeachment trial in the Senate, saying her presence will only intimidate the senator-judges.

“If allowed not to attend, then I won’t; and I understand, it’s possible. Because they might just be intimidated by my presence there,” she in Filipino in a press conference on Friday after she was asked if she would attend the hearings.

In a press conference on Thursday, Senate President Francis Escudero said Duterte has the right to confront the witnesses against her.

“That is her right if she wants to attend the hearing every day. She also has the right to speak as a lawyer because she can represent herself or sit as a witness. That is possible. That is up to her. But she cannot be forced to testify in the case because it will violate her right against self-incrimination,” he said in Filipino.

“In other words, she cannot be summoned by the prosecution and forced to sit there to be questioned if she does not want to. That cannot be done,” he added.

But according to Escudero, the impeachment court has the right to issue a subpoena against Duterte if she ever gets invited and doesn’t attend the proceedings.

“According to the rules, that can only be issued through a vote or if the rules are changed, only through an order of the presiding officer,” he explained in Filipino.

READ: No impeachment trial vs VP Duterte during break of Congress – Escudero