Malacañang said Vice President Sara Duterte should appear before the Senate Impeachment Court and face the charges against her after the chamber formally summoned her to answer the impeachment complaint.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Duterte should take the opportunity to confront the witnesses and respond to the allegations, recalling the Vice President’s previous statement that she was looking forward to the trial and even wanted a “bloodbath.”
“Noon naman po niya sinabi na she wants bloodbath. At dito mapapakita, ano ang kakayanan ng bise presidente upang sumagot sa mga katanungan, para harapin ang kanyang mga witnesses, yung mga witnesses against her, mga testigo na maaaring magsabi ng mga statements na hindi papabor sa kanya. Yan naman po ay karapatan ng isang respondent, ng isang defendant, maski na rin ng isang akusado, na harapin,” Castro said.
The Vice President had previously declined to attend hearings conducted by the House Committee on Justice, insisting that only the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has the authority to try her.
Duterte’s legal team has yet to confirm whether she will comply with the Senate’s summons.
Castro also challenged the Vice President’s lawyers to allow her to appear before the impeachment court if they believe she is innocent.
She said Duterte’s participation in the proceedings would be the best way to demonstrate to the Filipino people and the international community that she has nothing to hide.
