VP Sara must appear before impeachment court to enter plea – solon

By Zaldy De Layola, Philippine News Agency

(Photo Office of the Vice President)

MANILA – House prosecutor Chel Diokno of Akbayan Party-list on Monday said that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is still required to personally appear before the Senate impeachment court to enter her plea.

In a press conference, Diokno said the Senate Rules on Impeachment Trials clearly require the respondent not only to file an answer to the articles of impeachment but also to appear before the impeachment court so her plea can be formally recorded.

He also pointed out that a prior hearing shall be scheduled for this purpose.

“If she refuses to appear, the impeachment court will enter a plea of not guilty on her behalf,” Diokno added.

“On the other hand, the rules also provide that the respondent has the choice of entering a plea of guilty during that hearing,” he said.

Diokno said the prosecution is expecting that such a proceeding will be conducted before the formal start of trial on July 6, as provided in the impeachment rules.

This means the Senate impeachment court, according to its rules, should issue a writ of summons for Duterte’s entry of appearance.

Asked if the internal dispute in the Senate gives an advantage for Duterte’s defense team, House trial spokesperson Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said such political issues should not be seen as an advantage by either side, stressing that “both prosecution and defense are bound by the evidence to be presented in court.”

Diokno agreed, pointing out that delaying the trial will not give the Vice President the upper hand during trial, as judgment should be ruled based on evidence.

“I don’t see that what is happening in the Senate will be an advantage to the defense team. This is about the evidence,” he said.

Co added that any delay in the proceedings would ultimately affect all parties, including the defense, as the impeachment process is meant to resolve the allegations with finality.

“Kaya ang gusto natin matapos na ang paglilitis para sa punot-dulo nito kung ano man ang alegasyon (So what we want is to finish the trial to find the root cause, whatever the allegations are),” she said. “Ang pagtutuloy-tuloy ng paglilitis (the continuance of the trial) will be to the advantage of due process and all institutions facing these allegations.”

After Duterte filed what the prosecution describes as a “non-answer” to the articles of impeachment on June 1, the panel decided to file a manifestation on Monday, saying her persistent refusal to address allegations with proper explanations does not deserve a formal reply.

The House prosecution panel is expecting to submit a pretrial brief to the Senate impeachment court on June 15 and proceed with a conference on June 18, with the trial initially set on July 6.

This article is republished from PNA.