‘Sara must face Senate impeach court in person’

MANILA, Philippines —  It would serve both impeached Vice President Sara Duterte and the public best if she appears in person at her Senate impeachment trial, House prosecutor and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor said yesterday, warning that her absence could signal she is hiding something or evading accountability.

“It’s a big thing if you will not appear before the impeachment trial. It means you are hiding something,” Defensor said in an interview with “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” over dzBB.

 The Vice President faces seven Articles of Impeachment, including alleged illegal use of P612.5 million in confidential funds during her concurrent tenure as Vice President and former education secretary.

She is also accused of issuing threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez. These allegations form part of the complaint’s charge of abuse of power and conduct unbecoming of a high-ranking official.

 Defensor said the impeachment trial is an opportunity, not a punishment, for Duterte to publicly defend herself and prove her innocence.

“This impeachment trial is not after having the Vice President jailed, but she is being given a good chance to acquit herself,” Defensor said.

  “If her defense is good and she convinces the 24 senator-judges that she did not commit any wrongdoing, this is the perfect opportunity for her to do so in front of live (audience), in front of all the Filipinos,” the lawmaker added.

 Duterte is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, reportedly to support her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial before the International Criminal Court. 

“Both of them are facing serious crimes. We cannot use being abroad as an excuse because the impeachment trial can proceed even without the Vice President,” he added.

And while Senate President Francis Escudero has said that Duterte’s physical presence is not mandatory, Defensor insisted that showing up in person would demonstrate respect for the process and confidence in her defense.

“The issue here is whether a high-ranking official should continue to retain her position or be removed because of wrongdoings like what are stated in the seven articles of impeachment laid down in our impeachment complaint,” Defensor said.

The Senate will resume its session on June 2 and convene as an impeachment court on June 3, with pre-trial proceedings scheduled from June 24 to July 25. 

 The trial proper is set to begin on July 30, two days after President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address.

VP security

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday it will continue to provide security personnel to the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) upon the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In an interview over dzRH radio, spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo clarified that the VPSPG falls under the AFP, while the PNP, through its Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), only provides police personnel as a complement to the unit.

“The VPSPG is under the AFP, and the PNP merely provides a police complement through the PSPG. If the AFP reorganizes the unit, that is within their authority. On our part, we will continue providing personnel if they request it,” Fajardo, concurrent director of Rgion 3, said.

Currently, 25 PNP personnel are detailed to the VPSPG. – Mark Ernest Villeza