Prosecution calls out Sara Duterte's 'selective attendance' for Pulong, but not her own trial

The House prosecution panel on Friday raised concerns over the appearance of Vice President Sara Duterte at the arraignment of her brother, Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, saying she should show similar commitment with regard to her own impeachment trial.

Speaking on behalf of the prosecution team, prosecutor Terry Ridon of Bicol Sary Partylist called out the Vice President's "selective attendance" as she is not required to attend the congressman's proceedings, but should face the public and answer the allegations against her in the Senate impeachment court.

"Mayroon pong selective attendance ang Pangalawang Pangulo. Of course, the proceedings of her brother matters kasi siymepre kapatid niya ho 'yon. Pero I think the more important proceeding for her would be her own grave threats proceeding at the Senate impeachment court—tapos na ho yon ngayon and she did not attend it," Ridon said.

(The Vice President has selective attendance. Of course, the proceedings of her brother matters because he's her sibling. But I think the more important proceeding for her would be her own grave threats proceeding at the Senate impeachment court—then she did not attend it.)

"Ang totoo po, kung mayroon siyang righteous indignation dito po sa proceedings na ginaganap ho laban sa kanya, she should be there to look at the prosecutors in the eye na, 'Mga sinungaling kayong lahat, walang batayan yung kaso ninyo,'" Ridon said.

(If she really feels righteous indignation regarding the ongoing proceedings, she should be there to look the prosecutors in the eye and say, 'You are all liars, your case has no basis.')

"But she hasn't done it. Chief Justice Corona did it," he added.

House prosecutor Congressman Zia Adiong said the Vice President also bore a responsibility to the nation, not just her family.

"May mga kapatid tayo, so we understand if the Vice President felt the need to perform her obligation to her sibling by being present during the arraignment," Adiong said.

"But the way that she displayed her loyalty or her obligation to her sibling should also equate the obligation that she needs to perform by facing the charges hurdled against her. 'Yung obligasyon niya naman sa taong bayan, hindi ho natin nakita 'yon dahil hindi po siya pumupunta," he added.

(But the way she demonstrated her loyalty or obligation to her sibling should match the obligation she needs to fulfill by facing the charges leveled against her. As for her obligation to the public, we haven't seen that because she refuses to show up.)

The Vice President accompanied her brother during his arraignment on the afternoon of August 13, 2026, at the Regional Trial Court-Branch 52 in Davao City over a grave threats case filed against him by businessman Kristone John Patria.

The congressman declined to enter a plea, citing a jurisdictional challenge to the case and its information. The charges stemmed from an alleged confrontation at a bar in Davao City on February 23, 2025.

Like brother...

Ridon said they were surprised that Congressman Duterte is likewise facing a grave threats case.

"Tama po 'yung binabanggit ni Cong. Adiong na it is interesting na may kinakaharap pong grave threats issue ang Pangalawang Pangulo, at may kinakaharap din posng issue ang kanya pong kapatid. So parang like brother, like sister po ito," Ridon said.

(What Cong. Adiong mentioned is correct. It is interesting that the Vice President is facing a grave threats issue, and her brother is facing a similar issue as well. So it's like brother, like sister.)

"And the question of the nation is: Does it actually run in the family? I think 'yan po 'yung questions that need to be answered moving forward," he added.

(And the nation's question is: Does it actually run in the family? I think those are the questions that need to be answered moving forward.)

Vice President Duterte has so far never attended any of the 15 days of her impeachment trial.

Last July, she appeared at the Senate only to meet with her defense lawyers.

In her impeachment trial, Duterte is being accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

She is also facing a grave threats complaint filed by the Department of Justice over her remarks stating that she had hired someone to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she dies.

GMA News has reached out to Duterte's camp for her statement on the matter. — VDV, GMA News