House prosecution spox: VP Sara's appearance, non-appearance won't affect case

The House prosecution team is unfazed by whether or not Vice President Sara Duterte will attend the impeachment trial, saying it does not carry any weight on the case.

“It will not affect how we will present our case. We will still present our evidence, bring to the witness stand all of our witnesses, regardless if she is there or not,” said House prosecution team legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr. at a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

The lawyer, however, acknowledged mounting public clamor for Duterte to personally face the impeachment court and answer the allegations directly.

“We, of course, recognize the sentiment of the public that there’s a demand to hear her personally, address these allegations against [her], and face the impeachment court. But we have to respect the rules, which allow to give her the option to either appear in person or through counsel,” Tolosa said.

“But again, we merit the opinion of the people that she should be there,” he said.

The Senate impeachment court has summoned Vice President Sara Duterte to appear at the formal opening of her impeachment trial on Monday, July 6.

"You are hereby notified that trial will commence on the 6th day of July at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and are further directed to appear on said date, in person or through counsel, before the Impeachment Court at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City," the notice read.

Meanwhile, Bantay Senado co-convenor Dino de Leon on Saturday urged the Senate leadership to withhold the salaries and operational budgets of the offices of absentee and suspended senators, questioning why public funds continue to finance staff whose principals are not performing their duties.

“We are urging the leadership of the Senate to already withhold the budget and the salary of offices of absentee senators,” de Leon said during the news forum.

"Absent nga yung senator, hindi nagpapakita, bakit sumisweldo ‘yung mga staff?" De Leon said.

(The senator is absent and not showing up, so why are the staff members still receiving salaries?)

Senator Jinggoy Estrada is currently serving a 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan in connection with charges stemming from the alleged flood control fund anomaly.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions since May following reports that the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Duterte's impeachment trial will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6. It will initially be held weekly from Monday to Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 27. Proceedings will be adjusted to Tuesdays to Thursdays at 2 p.m. after the SONA. —VAL/VBL, GMA News