Senators Urge Sara Duterte to Personally Attend Impeachment Trial

Two majority senators, brothers Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, said they would prefer Vice President Sara Duterte to personally attend her impeachment trial and address the allegations against her. This comes as the House prosecution panel announced that instead of presenting 15 witnesses, it would seek to have Duterte take the witness stand. In an interview, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said the impeachment trial would be the proper venue for Duterte to respond to the allegations. “Trial by publicity is really rampant now, especially on social media, including fake news. If fake news spreads quickly, you are immediately judged—you are called a thief, stupid, etc.," he said. "Now this is the proper forum, the court, to explain your side, right? To give your side and, if you have to deny the allegations, then you have to deny them,” Tulfo added. His brother, Sen. Raffy Tulfo, also said Duterte should personally address the allegations. “Ideally, yes. It is better to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. She can address all our questions that her people cannot answer. She can answer them properly,” he told reporters. However, Erwin Tulfo said inviting Duterte to attend the Senate impeachment trial was different from compelling her to appear. He said Duterte could be invited but could not be forced to attend through a subpoena. Erwin Tulfo cited the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, wherein Estrada was invited to attend but was not compelled to appear out of courtesy. Meanwhile, Sen. JV Ejercito agreed that Duterte could not be compelled to attend. “Well, it is the prerogative of the respondent, as they said, she is represented by her lawyers. So, it is up to her. We probably could not force her to go if she does not want to,” Ejercito said in a mix of English and Filipino. Duterte is facing four articles of impeachment over allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, bribery, unexplained wealth and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. On Monday, the prosecution panel notified the impeachment court of its intention to present Duterte as a witness, saying the circumstances surrounding the allegations point to her as the “queen” on the chessboard, which can “move in all directions.” “All of these pawns and castles and horses and bishops point to only one person, and that accountable person is the Vice President,” private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said in her manifestation.— MCG, GMA News