Impeachment court can't compel Sara Duterte to attend trial - spox

The spokesperson for the Senate impeachment court said Monday Vice President Sara Duterte cannot be compelled to attend her own trial as she has the right against self-incrimination and is being represented by her lawyers.

In a press conference, Atty. Reginald Tongol said that it is up to Duterte if she wants to voluntarily attend the impeachment trial, but no one can actually force her to do so.

“Tama po. Cannot be compelled to attend, one because meron po siyang rights against self-incrimination under the Constitution,” he said.

(That's right. She cannot be compelled to attend, one because she has rights against self-incrimination under the Constitution.)

“Hindi rin po siya kinakailangang pumunta naman kasi wala namang pangangailangan sa pagpunta niya dahil narerepresenta na po siya ng kanyang mga abogado at ‘yung depensa niya ay narerepresenta na rin nung answer niya na pinayl,” he added.

(She is also not required to attend because she is already represented by her lawyers and her defense was also represented when she filed her answers.)

The Vice President, who is being accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery and other high crimes, did not attend the first day of her impeachment trial on Monday, July 6 at the Senate.

She was, however, represented by her defense team led by Atty. Sheila Sison.

Duterte's legal team had argued in their pleadings that the Articles of Impeachment are "constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient". They also sought the dismissal of the impeachment case against the Vice President. —RF, GMA News