Senators Prefer VP Duterte to Testify at Impeachment Trial

Senators Raffy and Erwin Tulfo said on Wednesday that they would prefer Vice President Sara Duterte to testify at her impeachment trial. The Tulfos made the statement after counsel for the prosecution Lorna Kapunan manifested on Tuesday the panel’s intent to present Duterte as a witness, noting that the testimonies of witnesses point to her. When asked by the media whether it would be preferable for Duterte to appear at her trial, Sen. Raffy agreed. “Ideally, yes, it would be better. So that she can tell us from the horse’s mouth all the questions that her people cannot answer, she will be the one who can answer them correctly,” he said. His younger brother, Sen. Erwin, expressed the same preference but noted that Duterte is still entitled to parliamentary courtesy. “This is the right forum for her to speak so that everyone can hear her out… She should address her millions of supporters. [But] There is still courtesy; if she doesn’t want to, there is nothing we can do,” he explained in a separate interview. Members of the House prosecution panel have long insisted on the need for Duterte to be present at her trial, but her defense team, as well as the Senate Impeachment Court, said Duterte need not be present as she is being represented by her counsel. Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison cited Article III, Section 17 of the Constitution, which prohibits compelling the respondent or accused to testify against herself.