Sara Duterte's foreign trips won't affect impeachment trial - prosecution

Vice President Sara Duterte’s travels abroad will not affect the House prosecution panel’s ongoing presentation of the articles of impeachment against her, its spokesperson said.

House prosecution spokesperson and Lanao Del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that while Malacañang has the discretion to approve or deny the vice president's request for travel authority, her travel would not affect the prosecution panel's presentation of its case.

“Sa palagay naman namin, kung ang presentasyon lang naman ng artikulo, hindi naman makakaapekto ‘yun sa presentation,” Adiong said during a briefing on Tuesday.

(In our view, if it is only the presentation of the articles, that would not affect the proceedings.)

“In fact, hindi nga siya pumupunta dito (she does not even come here).So it does not matter, regardless whether she’s in a faraway land or whether she’s just within the neighborhood,” he added.

Duterte is facing an impeachment complaint accusing her of betrayal of public trust over allegations that she misused confidential funds allocated to her offices, amassed unexplained wealth, resorted to violence, and threatened to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Duterte is scheduled to visit Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands from July 16 to 31, according to the Office of the Vice President.

Adiong said the prosecution panel has repeatedly urged Duterte to personally answer the allegations against her, but she has yet to do so.

“Kung tatanungin ninyo may epekto ba ito sa aming paglalahad ng mga artikulo… wala po,” he said.

(If you ask whether [these trips] has any effect on our presentation of the articles… none.)

Earlier, Adiong wished the vice president "safe travels and a happy trip."— MCG, GMA News