Vice President Sara Duterte said the presence of her defense lawyers at the Senate impeachment court already counts as her own participation in the proceedings, GMA News reported.
“Ang impeachment ay isang legal na process at yung pagpunta ng aking mga abogado doon, yun ang aking appearance at participation doon sa proseso na yun,” Duterte told reporters during an ambush interview in Davao City.
Pressed on whether she would personally go to the trial, the vice president gave no direct answer and noted that she had not received any summons.
“Anong ibig sabihin? Manood ako doon sa kanilang sarsuela? Well, depende, wala pa namang pagpapatawag sa akin,” she said.
Duterte likewise did not say whether her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, would show up at the proceedings. The mayor has already been served a subpoena by the impeachment court.
House prosecutors have said they plan to ask that the vice president herself be summoned to answer the charges filed against her.
