Sara Duterte can't be compelled to testify at impeachment trial —defense lawyer

Vice President Sara Duterte cannot be compelled to testify against herself during her own impeachment trial, her lead defense counsel said Tuesday.

During the 23rd day of the impeachment trial, lawyer Sheila Sison cited Section 17, Article 3 of the Constitution, which states that “no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.”

“This right is absolute and this is not only a simple right or a statutory right. This is a fundamental right. This is a right emanating from the Constitution itself and one that emanates from the guarantees under Article 3 of our 1987 Constitution,” she said.

This came after the House Prosecution panel said they intend to call Duterte to the witness stand.

Sison also said that Duterte is present in the trial through her counsel.

“If respondent is not interested in this trial, she would not have even sent her lawyers to defend her in this case,” she said.

Meanwhile, the prosecution also said it would forego the presentation of witnesses for Article 1 of the impeachment case, referring to the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on May 11, in a vote of 257-25-9, on allegations of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

Her impeachment trial at the Senate impeachment court began on July 8. —KG, GMA News