House prosecutors: Sara Duterte's attendance won't alter trial strategy

The House prosecution panel on Monday said it is prepared to proceed with Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial regardless of whether she personally appears before the Senate impeachment court.

Former House lawmaker and prosecution panel adviser Robert Ace Barbers said the prosecution's presentation of witnesses and evidence would remain the same even if Duterte decides to attend the proceedings.

"I don't think that [Duterte's appearance] affect us. As we have always said, the prosecution panel is prepared to conduct the direct examination of our witnesses and present the evidence we have laid out," he said.

“So kahit sinong umatend, wala namang epekto 'yan sa pag-conduct ng direct examination sa ating mga witnesses,” he added.

(Whoever attends, it will not affect how we conduct the direct examination of our witnesses.)

Barbers, however, said it would be better if the Vice President personally attends the trial.

“Sa aking palagay, mas makakabuti na umatend ang ating pangalawang Pangulo. Sa ganoon, marinig natin kung ano ang sagot sa mga alegasyon na inilatag sa Articles of Impeachment na inihain ng House of Representatives,” he said.

(In my opinion, it would be better if the Vice President attends so we can hear her answers to the allegations contained in the Articles of Impeachment filed by the House of Representatives.)

House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong likewise said Duterte's attendance would give the public an opportunity to hear her response to the accusations against her.

"It's not so much on the presentation of the case of the prosecution. It's her owning to her narrative that she is not guilty of all these charges. And the people deserve to know from her the truth, at the very least denying all these allegations," Adiong said.

“So hindi doon sa prosecution o mayroon bang epekto sa prosecution. Ito 'yung matagal nang panawagan ng taong bayan na pumunta siya kasi this is her trial. At marinig sa kanya kung ano 'yung mga kasagutan niya dito sa kasong ipiniprisenta laban sa kanya ng prosecution.,” he added.

(This is not about whether it affects the prosecution. The public has long been calling on her to appear because this is her trial. And to hear directly from her what her answers are to the case being presented against her by the prosecution.)

Meanwhile, House impeachment legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution has yet to ask the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Duterte.

Tolosa said such a request would be filed only if the Vice President is called to testify, adding that it would still be up to the impeachment court to decide whether to issue the subpoena.

He added that Duterte's testimony, if presented, would be relevant not only to the article of impeachment involving her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, but also to the other articles contained in the impeachment complaint.— MCG, GMA News