Manila: Filipinos have the right to hear Vice President Sara Z. Duterte personally answer the allegations in her impeachment trial, as the prosecution pushes for her to be presented as a witness in the interest of transparency and accountability.
According to Philippines News Agency, lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro emphasized this stance after the defense raised objections to calling Duterte as a prosecution witness. This development followed an earlier statement by prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan. Kapunan argued, "The position of the prosecution about calling the respondent Vice President as witness for the four articles of impeachment at the end of the presentation of all these articles is in line with the mandate of transparency and accountability, Your Honor, which is enshrined in our constitution."
Luistro stressed the importance of hearing Duterte's responses for both the impeachment court and the Filipino public. "It is important that the impeachment court, including the viewing public, witness how the respondent vice president answered to all these allegations because this is the spirit behind the provision of the constitution on transparency and accountability, Your Honor," she stated.
Addressing the defense's mention of Duterte's constitutional rights, Luistro argued that the prosecution, representing the Filipino people, also has rights that should be acknowledged. "We wish to invoke as well that even the Filipino people whom we represent are entitled to these constitutional rights," Luistro asserted.
Luistro further noted that discussions about Duterte's participation should involve the Vice President herself. She remarked, "I would like to put on record that the manifestations made were premature because as a matter of fact, we haven't formalized yet the motion for the issuance of subpoena to the respondent Vice President, Your Honor."
Defense counsel Sheila Sison countered that Duterte could not be compelled to testify for the prosecution, citing protection against self-incrimination. Sison maintained that Duterte was actively participating in the trial through her legal team and reserved the defense's formal response until a subpoena request was presented. "If respondent is not interested in this trial, she would not have even sent her lawyers to defend her in this case," Sison pointed out.
Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero stated that the court would wait for a formal prosecution motion and the defense's comments before issuing a ruling. Escudero also mentioned that Duterte could choose to appear voluntarily, referencing former Chief Justice Renato Corona's appearance during his impeachment trial.
