Impeachment court awaiting VP Sara Duterte's reply to summons

Vice President Sara Duterte has yet to submit her reply to the summons issued by the Senate impeachment court when it convened on June 10, the tribunal's spokesperson said on Saturday.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras," the Vice President's camp may submit its reply until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 23.

The ten days that the impeachment court gave Duterte to answer the summons ended on June 21, but since it fell on Saturday, her camp may file the reply until Monday.

Impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said the Vice President has yet to file a reply as of Saturday morning.

"Whether or not there is an answer, or whether or not there is an appearance pero walang answer, patuloy pa rin po 'yung proseso," Tongol said in a news forum.

(Whether or not there is an answer, or whether or not there is an appearance but no answer, the process is still ongoing.)

At the forum, Tongol presented an 11-step process to the impeachment proceedings, where steps 1 to 4 were already accomplished:

• Step 1: Legislative session
• Step 2: Official convening of the impeachment court
• Step 3: Issuance of summons to the Vice President
• Step 4: Service of summons to the Vice President
• Step 5:  Await the Vice President's reply (set to end with a non-extendible period to answer the articles of impeachment against her)
• Step 6: Await the reply of the House prosecutors within five days from receipt of the answer. Since it also fell on a Saturday, June 28, they could still submit up to June 30
• Step 7: The Vice President's appearance at the impeachment court and entering her plea, which might happen in the 20th Congress
• Step 8: Preliminary conference
• Step 9: Presentation of evidence
• Step 10: Closing/Final arguments
• Step 11: Senator-judges vote on each article of impeachment

"Yes, tatawid talaga kasi 'yun talaga 'yung mangyayari (Yes, it will cross over, that is what will happen). Whether we like it or not... As to the 19th Congress, we are on time and expected to finish half of the steps," Tongol said.

GMA Integrated News is still seeking the response of Duterte as of posting time.

According to the Office of the Vice President, Duterte is in Australia for a personal trip and will attend a rally in support of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Sunday.  –Jamil Santos/NB, GMA Integrated News