VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Lopez May Face Contempt for Non-Appearance

The Senate impeachment court may order Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez to explain her absence should she fail to appear and testify in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. "Like any other compulsory process, the court kapag merong hindi pagsunod sa kanya, pwedeng mashow-cause siya for contempt," Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol told reporters in a virtual press conference Friday. (Like any other compulsory process, the court may issue a show-cause order if she fails to show up.) "Ang tinatawag na show-cause dito, isang party na nag-issue ng subpoena...can ask the court to ask the witness kung bakit hindi siya nakapunta at hindi siya tumalima sa subpoena na in-issue sa kanya para malalaman ng korte kung meron bang justifiable reason ng hindi niya pagpunta," he said. (Through the show-cause, the parties who asked the court to issue the subpoena may ask the individual who failed to heed the court to order to explain her absence and if there is a justifiable reason for it.) Lopez, one of Duterte's long-time aides, was issued a subpoena, compelling her to appear before the court on July 13 and July 14 to provide "material testimony" in relation to the Vice President's impeachment case. She arrived at the Senate on Thursday for a coordination meeting with Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., wherein they discussed administrative matters including the number of allocated seats for the guests of the defense team, and the security protocols should Duterte visit the Senate. Asked for the purpose of her visit, Lopez answered: "Prepare for Typhoon Inday." According to Tongol, he "cannot hazard a guess" if Lopez's previous visit means she intended to comply with the subpoena. He also clarified the issuance of an explanation is part of the due process accorded to individuals who failed to heed with court orders. "Hindi lang sa subpoena yan, pati kunwari inutusan kang mag-file ng memorandum tapos hindi ka nag-file...then meron kang hindi pag-sunod sa korte. Tatanungin ka rin na bakit hindi mo ito sinunod, anong rason mo. So 'yun yung pwedeng mangyari kung sakaling hindi sumunod ang isang tao sa orders ng korte," he added. (That is not exclusive to subpoena. Even in court orders on issuing memoranda, if you fail to do so then the court will ask for your explanation.) Holding room Meanwhile, Tongol said the Senate impeachment court has allocated a holding room for Duterte in anticipation for her possible visits during the trial. "Araw-araw naman ine-expect ng Senado ang kaniyang pagpunta dahil na rin karapatan niya yun bilang respondent doon sa impeachment trial," he said. (We're expecting her visit everyday because that is part of her right as respondent to the case.) "Laging nakahanda naman yung holding room para sa kanya. Whether magpakita talaga siya o hindi, hindi na namin i-expect yun na hindi siya magpapakita. Basta ang expectation, magpapakita siya," he added. (We prepared the holding room for her. Whether she appears or not, our expectation is that she would appear.) House, defense memoranda on subpoena The first week of the 92-day impeachment trial wrapped up with the prosecution presenting its first witness and the defense cross-examining him. For the second week, Tongol said Lopez and NBI official Jeremy Lotoc are expected to take the witness stand. He also said both the prosecutors and the defense are ordered to submit their formal memoranda on the subpoena on Duterte's financial records as well as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box containing the Vice President's tax-related documents. — RSJ, GMA News