Sara's 2028 Presidential Bid Under Scrutiny Amid Impeachment Trial

MANILA, Philippines — As Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment proceedings, prosecutors are now questioning her fitness for a potential 2028 presidential bid, asserting that the court of public opinion should also weigh in on her suitability. Representative Terry Ridon, a prosecutor in the impeachment trial, stated in an interview with The STAR’s “Truth on the Line” that the trial under Article IV, concerning grave threats, is not meant to prove if she hired a hitman to kill the President and his family, as that is considered "extraneous to the issue." "Is that the president we wish to elect in 2028? Making threats against a Filipino? The Vice President herself had stated that she wanted to be President in 2028, so we need to measure her on that standard. Is this the type of leadership that we would want to have in our nation?" Ridon asked. The prosecution is expected to conclude its presentation of evidence for the fourth article of impeachment with its final witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, on July 21. Ridon added that the impeachment proceedings aim not only to prove Duterte's unfitness for the vice presidency but also to address and end the culture of violence in the country, which he traced back to the administration of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. During his presidency, the elder Duterte was known for his profanity-laden public remarks, including threats of killing. Ridon pointed out that even Duterte's supporters, emboldened by their leaders, are making threats against individuals with differing political views. He recalled receiving a threatening message from a councilor in Lebak town, Sultan Kudarat, and is preparing legal action against him. The prosecution expressed high confidence in having proven the case of threats, noting that the testimonies of their two NBI witnesses remained "unblemished" despite intense cross-examination. Senior agent John Mark Calilung and Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc have testified so far. Meanwhile, Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol announced that Monday's trial would address the prosecution's request for a subpoena on Duterte's bank and tax records. Tongol suggested that the 2012 Corona impeachment trial could provide guidance on handling such requests, referencing a similar subpoena issued to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for Corona's income tax returns, which led to the summoning of the then BIR commissioner. For Duterte's records, Tongol indicated they might not necessarily come in a "green box" but could be submitted in folders. At last Wednesday's hearing, the House prosecution, through Representative Chel Diokno, officially requested the court to subpoena bank records. Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan criticized the Duterte camp for continuously obstructing the prosecution's efforts to present evidence, questioning, "The VP said the prosecution is just all noise – no evidence. And yet now that we are presenting evidence, who is blocking the evidence? Who is blocking the presentation of the bank records? Who is blocking the presentation of the BIR records? Who is blocking all relevant evidence?" Source: Philstar Nation