MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio to personally face the Senate impeachment court, saying her direct testimony would help clarify the allegations against her as her historic impeachment trial formally opens today, July 6.
Speaking to reporters after concluding his four-day official visit to Canada, Marcos said he would personally appear before the impeachment court if he were in Duterte-Carpio’s position rather than rely solely on legal counsel.
“Of course, it would be much easier to get to the bottom of everything if you can speak to the accused directly, if the accused can answer directly, not through secondary channels, not through the lawyers,” Marcos said.
“But that’s just my own opinion. It’s not a legal opinion. I’m just trying to put myself in that position. I would probably, myself, if it was me being accused, I would almost insist over the advice of lawyers, if they advise me not to appear, I would insist on appearing,” he added.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro echoed the President’s view, encouraging Duterte-Carpio to personally take the witness stand and use the impeachment proceedings to answer the accusations against her before the Senate impeachment court.
“Iyan naman po ay karapatan ng isang respondent, ng isang defendant, maski na rin ng isang akusado, na harapin personal ang kanyang mga testigo o mga testigo laban sa kanya,” Castro said.
“At dito mapapakita (kung) ano ang kakayanan ng Bise Presidente upang sumagot sa mga katanungan,” she added.
Castro said it would be better for Duterte-Carpio to address the allegations in the proper constitutional forum and demonstrate transparency throughout the proceedings.
She also said Duterte-Carpio’s legal team should allow her to actively participate in the trial if they believe she is innocent.
“Alam naman nila na ‘yung kanilang kliyente ay walang kasalanan at malinis, mas magandang maipakita ito sa buong mga kababayan natin at sa buong mundo na ang Bise Presidente ay malinis. Kung yan ang gusto nila ipakita, mas maganda po ngayon,” Castro said.
The Palace official also recalled Duterte-Carpio’s previous statement that she wanted a “bloodbath” during the impeachment proceedings.
Despite the Palace’s position, Castro emphasized that the executive branch would fully respect the Senate’s constitutional authority as an impeachment court, including whatever procedures it adopts during the trial.
“Ito ay ang Senado kung ano man ang magiging proseso dito. Ginagalang po natin yan dahil yan po ay nasa kamay po ng Senado. At kung ano man po ang estratehiya ng mga lawyers, pati ng prosecution, ay nasa kanila po iyan,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio is facing four articles of impeachment alleging misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
In a notice dated July 2 and signed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, acting as presiding officer of the impeachment court, Duterte-Carpio was directed to appear at the opening of her impeachment trial this afternoon, either personally or through her legal counsel./PN
