Malacañang on Friday (Canada time) said Vice President Sara Duterte should take part in the impeachment trial as an opportunity to respond to allegations and clear her name before the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte’s appearance in the proceedings would allow her to directly answer questions and confront witnesses who may testify against her.
“Iyan naman po ay karapatan ng isang respondent, ng isang defendant, maski na rin ng isang akusado, na harapin personal ang kanyang mga testigo o mga testigo laban sa kanya,” Castro said in a press briefing at the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver.
“At dito mapapakita (kung) ano ang kakayanan ng Bise Presidente upang sumagot sa mga katanungan,” she added.
Castro said it would be better for Duterte to address the allegations in the proper forum, stressing that transparency would serve the interests of both the Vice President and the public.
She added that if Duterte’s legal team believes she is innocent of the accusations, her participation in the trial would help demonstrate this before the public and the international community.
“Alam naman nila na ‘yung kanilang kliyente ay walang kasalanan at malinis, mas magandang maipakita ito sa buong mga kababayan natin at sa buong mundo na ang Bise Presidente ay malinis. Kung yan ang gusto nila ipakita, mas maganda po ngayon,” Castro said.
However, Castro emphasized that the impeachment proceedings are solely under the jurisdiction of the Senate acting as an impeachment court, which is responsible for setting the rules and procedures of the trial.
She said the executive branch respects the Senate’s constitutional mandate in handling the case, including decisions on the conduct of the proceedings and the strategies of both the prosecution and defense.
“Ito ay ang Senado kung ano man ang magiging proseso dito. Ginagalang po natin yan dahil yan po ay nasa kamay po ng Senado. At kung ano man po ang estratehiya ng mga lawyers, pati ng prosecution, ay nasa kanila po iyan,” she added.
The Senate impeachment court, in a notice signed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian as presiding officer, has summoned Duterte to appear at the start of the trial on July 6, either in person or through her counsel.
Photos courtesy of ABS-CBN, Inquirer.net
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