Palace urges VP Sara anew to face impeachment trial

By Brian Campued

Malacañang on Tuesday stressed anew that Vice President Sara Duterte should personally attend her trial to prove her innocence against the charges she is facing before the Senate Impeachment Court.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro commented when asked about Duterte’s absence at the opening of her impeachment trial on Monday.

“Sa ngayon kasi, hindi pa siguro panahon kasi hindi pa naman siya yung natananong,” Usec. Castro said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of an event at the National Library of the Philippines.

“As a Filipino, and as a lawyer, mas maganda na ang isang tao na naaakusahan ay makaharap niya ‘yung mga witnesses against her… Mas maganda, kung ako ang lawyer at alam ko na walang mali, malinis, walang pwedeng ikaso sa kanya, papaharapin ko siya para mapasinungalingan lahat ang mga akusasyon sa kanya,” she added.

Meanwhile, VP Duterte showed up at the Senate to meet her defense team, but would still not attend her impeachment trial.

In a brief address to the media, VP Duterte said, “In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed.”

The vice president, however, did not entertain any queries from the media.

The impeachment trial formally began on Monday with a new presiding officer elected and the prosecution and defense panels delivering their respective opening statements.

Earlier, the Malacañang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would not closely monitor the impeachment proceedings but would be informed about the major developments.

“Hindi naman po kinakailangan mag-monitor ang Pangulo. Malalaman naman po din niya kung ano ang magiging balita rito,” Usec. Castro said in a press briefing on Monday.

“Mas marami pong dapat na trabahuhin ang ating Pangulo at hindi po siya uupo lamang para po manood ng impeachment trial,” she added. (with reports from JM Thompson, Bernard Ferrer, and Clay Pardilla / PTV News)

-jpv