HOUSE impeachment spokespersons on Thursday expressed disappointment that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte did not personally attend the first day of pre-trial proceedings in her impeachment case, saying many Filipinos expected her to appear before the Senate impeachment court and begin addressing the allegations against her.
In a press briefing after the first day of the pre-trial conference, House impeachment spokespersons Reps. Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list and Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Duterte’s absence contrasted with her earlier statements that she was prepared to face the charges before the proper forum.
“We note, however, that Vice President Sara Duterte was not personally present during the pre-trial conference despite earlier statements that she expressed readiness and willingness to face the charges at the proper court,” Co said.
“Instead, she was represented by a legal counsel who appeared and acted on her behalf before the impeachment court,” she added.
Co acknowledged that Senate impeachment rules allow a party to appear through an authorized representative, but said the public had hoped Duterte herself would attend.
“That being said, the people are expecting VP Sara Duterte to show up in the pre-trial conference and even on the days that the trial proper will continue,” Co said.
“Bakit po? Ito po’y dahil ilang taon na pong hindi nasasagot ‘yung mga tanong ng taong bayan. And any further evasion is going to be another day, another week, another year of denial of justice. Ayaw na natin ng ganoon,” she said.
Alonto Adiong likewise said Duterte’s personal appearance would have demonstrated her willingness to directly confront the allegations against her.
“Well unang-una, it speaks about how serious she is in facing these allegations. The presence is important. Although nandoon naman sa Senate rules na hindi naman kinakailangan,” Alonto Adiong said.
The House spokesperson noted that the impeachment proceedings involve the country’s second-highest official and allegations that could constitute impeachable offenses.
“This will be a historic impeachment trial. Nowhere in Philippine history have we experienced the second highest official in the land faces serious allegations, culpable violations of the Constitution, which constitute impeachable offense,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said personally appearing before the impeachment court would have reflected the seriousness of the office Duterte holds and the gravity of the accusations she faces.
“I think it would be proper and would be more attuned to the demand of the people that she appears in the trial, in the pre-trial conference, to display her seriousness and her attempt, really, to face the charges and also to show na wala siyang tinatago at wala siyang kinakatakutan,” Alonto Adiong said.
The lawmaker also pointed to Duterte’s previous public statements that she would face the allegations in the proper forum.
“This is the direct opposite of what we have heard in the previous months, that she will appear in the proper forum, which now is the impeachment court,” Alonto Adiong said.
He added: “Para sa amin, para sa taong bayan, mas magiging tapat ‘yung kanyang sinasabi na wala siyang kasalanan kung maipakita niya na siya mismo ang humarap sa impeachment court, in this case, in the pre-trial conference.”
The Senate impeachment court began pre-trial proceedings on Thursday and is expected to continue them through June 25 ahead of the July 6 start of the trial proper.
