HOUSE trial spokesperson and Assistant Minority Leader Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list on Sunday said the public expected Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to personally appear in the impeachment proceedings after saying she was ready and willing to face the charges before the proper court.
In a radio interview over DZMM on Sunday night, Co said Duterte may have an authorized representative in the proceedings, but this does not erase the public expectation that she should personally face the process she had described as the proper forum.
“Sana po makita natin si VP Sara bukas (Monday),” she said.
But she said this must be weighed against Duterte’s earlier statement that she was prepared to answer the impeachment charges in the proper venue.
“Pero ang sinabi ni VP noon pa, siya ay handa at willing na harapin yung charges sa proper court,” Co said.
Co said Duterte’s absence is not new, noting that the Vice President also failed to appear before the House Committee on Justice despite repeated summons during earlier impeachment proceedings.
“So far hindi natin siya nakikita sa bahagi ng mga proseso na ito sa House Committee on Justice. Ilang beses siya sinummon, hindi siya nagpakita,” Co said.
For Co, the issue is not simply legal appearance through counsel. It is also a question of public accountability and whether the people will see the willingness Duterte herself had claimed.
“So sana po makita ng taumbayan ‘yung willingness na ‘yun,” Co said.
She said that if Duterte does not appear again, the public may draw its own conclusions from her repeated absence.
“Otherwise ano po ba ang iisipin ng taumbayan kung hindi po nagpakita ulit si VP Sara Duterte?” Co said.
Asked whether Duterte may also avoid the trial proper if she continues skipping earlier stages of the impeachment process, Co said she remains hopeful that the vice president will meet the standard expected of a public official.
“I’m still hoping for the best from VP Sara,” Co said.
She added that this is what the public should expect from those who hold office.
“Yan naman ang gusto natin sa isang public official,” Co said.
But Co said the people cannot be blamed if repeated absence leads them to think otherwise.
“Pero kung sa kaliwa’t kanan ay bibiguin tayo, hindi natin mapu-fault ‘yung taumbayan for thinking otherwise,” Co said.
Co stressed that the House prosecution panel remains open to whatever Duterte and her defense team may present before the impeachment court. She said the prosecution’s starting point is the citizen complaint and the need for the allegations to be heard through due process.
“Nonetheless, tuloy-tuloy yung pagbukas ng House prosecution panel sa kung ano man ‘yung iharap ni VP Sara at ng defense team sa atin dahil ang pinanggagalingan natin, citizen complaint,” Co said.
She said the prosecution only wants the complaints to reach court and be tested through the proper process.
“Gusto lang natin those complaints see their day in court and see their due process provided,” Co said.
Co said preparations continue for the July 6 start of the impeachment trial proper, with the House prosecution panel working on its witnesses, arguments, and evidence.
