Sara Duterte on her way to Senate to meet defense team

Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed Tuesday that she will be going to the Senate to meet her lawyers.

In a message to GMA News' Marisol Abdurahman, Duterte said that she is on her way to the Senate as she has no schedule in the Office of the Vice President.

Asked if she will attend the impeachment trial, Duterte said she will have a meeting with her defense team.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus also confirmed to reporters that the Senate has received information that the Vice President will go to the chamber within the day, but it is still uncertain if she will indeed do so.

“Meron silang mga pasabi pero (they gave coordination but) we don’t know if she’s coming,” Corpus said.

Duterte’s security team was spotted on the Senate premises earlier this morning.

Corpus said that the Senate is ready to accommodate the Vice President if she decides to come.

He said that the Senate has a designated holding area for Duterte, but she may also stay with her team.

Moreover, Corpus said he is not privy to whether Duterte is allowed to go to the offices of the senator-judges.

“I’m not sure. I think because you know, the senator-judges [are] already in an impeachment trial…siguro umiiwas na silang mag-ano (maybe they’re avoiding) because it’s already on trial,” he said.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, will convene at 2 p.m. to continue the trial of Duterte.

Duterte, 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.

She was, however, represented by her defense team led by Atty. Sheila Sison.—AOL, GMA News