Palace to Sara Duterte: Face allegations if you are for accountability

Malacañang on Tuesday called on Vice President Sara Duterte to face the allegations leveled against her, following the convening of the Senate impeachment court.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said this is the right thing to do if the Vice President is really pushing for transparency and accountability in government.

"Si Bise Presidente naman ay nagsusulong 'di umano ng transparency and accountability. Kung naniniwala siya sa transparency at accountability, harapin niya po 'yung mga ibinibintang at inaakusa sa kanya," Castro said in an interview on Balitanghali.

(The Vice President is supposedly promoting transparency and accountability. If she believes in transparency and accountability, she should face the allegations and accusations against her.)

The Senate on Monday convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Duterte over allegations of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

This came days after the House of Representatives, voting 257-25, impeached the Vice President for the second straight year.

Following the convening of the impeachment court and the senator-judges taking their oath, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said a writ of summons will be issued to Duterte.

She has been directed to file an answer within a non-extendible period of 10 calendar days from receipt and will be ordered to appear before the Senate "upon notice."

The defense team of Duterte, in response, vowed to comply with the summons of the impeachment court and file a response. — VDV, GMA News