NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
House To VP Sara: Due Process Is The Best Birthday Gift
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On the occasion of Vice President Sara Duterte’s birthday, a House prosecution spokesperson said the “best gift” she could receive is not political greetings—but due process and a chance to finally answer the allegations against her in the impeachment trial.
House trial spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said on Sunday that the impeachment proceedings before the Senate represent Duterte’s long-awaited opportunity to directly respond to the charges and clear her name if she chooses to do so.
Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso, Co said the prosecution panel views the trial as a constitutional process that ensures fairness for both sides, not just a political battle.
According to Co, the House is essentially “offering” Duterte the chance to go through due process and address the accusations in a formal setting before the Senate of the Philippines acting as an impeachment court.
She said the vice president should take the opportunity seriously, noting that the process allows her to respond in full—not just through legal technicalities, but by addressing the substance of the allegations.
Duterte’s legal team has previously said she intends to respond during the impeachment trial, which they consider the proper venue to contest the accusations.
Co, however, said the House prosecution expects a direct and substantial defense, stressing that the public has long been waiting for clear answers.
She added that while the proceedings will continue regardless of participation, a failure to present a strong response could further weaken the vice president’s position once the trial begins.
Under the impeachment timeline, Duterte was ordered by the Senate impeachment court to file her answer after receiving a writ of summons in May. Once all pleadings are submitted, the court is expected to set the schedule for pre-trial and the formal trial, possibly in July after Congress adjourns and following the State of the Nation Address.
The articles of impeachment reportedly include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats—charges that will be tested during the Senate trial where senator-judges will hear evidence from both prosecution and defense.
A two-thirds vote in the Senate, or at least 16 of 24 senators, is required for conviction. If found guilty, Duterte would be the first vice president in Philippine history to be removed from office and permanently barred from holding public positions.
For the House prosecution, however, the message on her birthday remains simple: the most meaningful “gift” is the chance to face the process and answer the accusations head-on.
House trial spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said on Sunday that the impeachment proceedings before the Senate represent Duterte’s long-awaited opportunity to directly respond to the charges and clear her name if she chooses to do so.
Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso, Co said the prosecution panel views the trial as a constitutional process that ensures fairness for both sides, not just a political battle.
According to Co, the House is essentially “offering” Duterte the chance to go through due process and address the accusations in a formal setting before the Senate of the Philippines acting as an impeachment court.
She said the vice president should take the opportunity seriously, noting that the process allows her to respond in full—not just through legal technicalities, but by addressing the substance of the allegations.
Duterte’s legal team has previously said she intends to respond during the impeachment trial, which they consider the proper venue to contest the accusations.
Co, however, said the House prosecution expects a direct and substantial defense, stressing that the public has long been waiting for clear answers.
She added that while the proceedings will continue regardless of participation, a failure to present a strong response could further weaken the vice president’s position once the trial begins.
Under the impeachment timeline, Duterte was ordered by the Senate impeachment court to file her answer after receiving a writ of summons in May. Once all pleadings are submitted, the court is expected to set the schedule for pre-trial and the formal trial, possibly in July after Congress adjourns and following the State of the Nation Address.
The articles of impeachment reportedly include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats—charges that will be tested during the Senate trial where senator-judges will hear evidence from both prosecution and defense.
A two-thirds vote in the Senate, or at least 16 of 24 senators, is required for conviction. If found guilty, Duterte would be the first vice president in Philippine history to be removed from office and permanently barred from holding public positions.
For the House prosecution, however, the message on her birthday remains simple: the most meaningful “gift” is the chance to face the process and answer the accusations head-on.
May 31, 2026
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