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House To VP Sara: 'If You've Done Nothing Wrong, Face The Trial'
Photo credit: House of Representatives of the Philippines
A House spokesperson on the impeachment trial challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to face the Senate proceedings instead of relying on legal technicalities, saying doing so would be the best way to answer the allegations against her.
Speaking in an interview on dzMM, House trial spokesperson Congressman Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution team cannot predict the next legal move of Duterte's camp, including the possibility of once again questioning the impeachment process before the Supreme Court.
However, Adiong said that if the vice president chooses to challenge the case on procedural grounds instead of directly addressing the accusations, it could leave the impression that she is avoiding the issues raised against her.
“Kung mayroon pagkakataon na ‘yan ang gagawin nila, isa lang ang magiging message sa taumbayan ‘yan: ayaw nilang sumagot, wala sila maisagot. Kaya tineteknikal nalang nila,” he said.
“It will send a clear message to the public that they don’t have really any answers to provide to the court, to really belie or to really oppose, or to really you know, defend and counter the arguments,” he added.
Adiong pointed out that Duterte herself has repeatedly said she is prepared to face the impeachment case before the Senate impeachment court, which she has described as the proper venue for the proceedings.
Because of those statements, he said it would be difficult to understand if she later refuses to appear or explain her side. According to him, anyone who believes the accusations are baseless should welcome the opportunity to clear their name.
“Kung wala ka naman talagang kasalanan, wala kang ikakatakot. Kung wala kang kasalanan at mayroon talagang mga akusasyon sayo, mas gusto mo pa nga eh na magkaroon ng pagkakataon para depensahan ang sarili mo kasi ‘yun na ‘yun ‘yung paraan para pabulaanan ang lahat ng mga alegasyon,” he said.
“I think they should welcome this as an opportunity to really defend the respondent kung talagang wala silang paglabag sa Konstitusyon na ayon sa ating articles of impeachment,” he added.
Adiong also defended the House of Representatives' handling of the impeachment complaint, saying every step followed the process required under the Constitution.
He explained that the complaints were properly endorsed by lawmakers, reviewed by the House Committee on Justice, and subjected to clarificatory hearings where evidence and testimonies were examined. He stressed that the proceedings were conducted in accordance with House rules and that the respondent was given opportunities to answer the allegations before the articles of impeachment were approved and transmitted to the Senate.
“When it was approved, it was transmitted as what the Constitution required for the process to proceed to the Senate to try and decide,” he said.
“Di ko alam kung paano nila ifeframe ‘yung kanilang argumento to question the entire process, pero isa lang yung magiging message as taumbayan — ayaw talaga niyang sumagot. Ayaw niya talagang patunayan sa taumbayan na they’re ready to face the charges in the proper forum,” he added.
Despite speculation that Duterte might not personally appear during portions of the trial, Adiong expressed confidence that the Senate impeachment court would handle the proceedings fairly and focus solely on the evidence presented by both sides.
“Sa palagay ko, ang magiging trial ay patas naman ito, impartial naman ito. Ang magiging paksa lang talaga dito ay yung ebidensya na mapoproduce ng prosecution at magagaling naman ang depensa, mga members ng defense team ng respondent ng vice president,” he said.
“So ito na yung pinakademocratic na pinakalegitimate na paraan para isulong itong impeachment trial na sa alam naman natin sa saligang batas ang Senado lang ang mayroon kapangyarihan para pagusapan ito,” he added.
The 11-member House prosecution panel, together with its volunteer private prosecutors, has spent months preparing documentary evidence, witnesses, and legal arguments for the trial.
“Ito na 'yung oras na malalaman na ng taong bayan at mapapakinggan na ng taong bayan yung specific na particular na ebidensya na hindi nakita at hindi narinig nung oras na tayo sa House of Representatives na nagcoconduct ng confirmation hearings," Adiong said.
Vice President Duterte is facing four impeachment charges, including allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats against Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to formally begin on July 6 before the Senate impeachment court, where both the prosecution and defense are expected to present their evidence.
Speaking in an interview on dzMM, House trial spokesperson Congressman Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution team cannot predict the next legal move of Duterte's camp, including the possibility of once again questioning the impeachment process before the Supreme Court.
However, Adiong said that if the vice president chooses to challenge the case on procedural grounds instead of directly addressing the accusations, it could leave the impression that she is avoiding the issues raised against her.
“Kung mayroon pagkakataon na ‘yan ang gagawin nila, isa lang ang magiging message sa taumbayan ‘yan: ayaw nilang sumagot, wala sila maisagot. Kaya tineteknikal nalang nila,” he said.
“It will send a clear message to the public that they don’t have really any answers to provide to the court, to really belie or to really oppose, or to really you know, defend and counter the arguments,” he added.
Adiong pointed out that Duterte herself has repeatedly said she is prepared to face the impeachment case before the Senate impeachment court, which she has described as the proper venue for the proceedings.
Because of those statements, he said it would be difficult to understand if she later refuses to appear or explain her side. According to him, anyone who believes the accusations are baseless should welcome the opportunity to clear their name.
“Kung wala ka naman talagang kasalanan, wala kang ikakatakot. Kung wala kang kasalanan at mayroon talagang mga akusasyon sayo, mas gusto mo pa nga eh na magkaroon ng pagkakataon para depensahan ang sarili mo kasi ‘yun na ‘yun ‘yung paraan para pabulaanan ang lahat ng mga alegasyon,” he said.
“I think they should welcome this as an opportunity to really defend the respondent kung talagang wala silang paglabag sa Konstitusyon na ayon sa ating articles of impeachment,” he added.
Adiong also defended the House of Representatives' handling of the impeachment complaint, saying every step followed the process required under the Constitution.
He explained that the complaints were properly endorsed by lawmakers, reviewed by the House Committee on Justice, and subjected to clarificatory hearings where evidence and testimonies were examined. He stressed that the proceedings were conducted in accordance with House rules and that the respondent was given opportunities to answer the allegations before the articles of impeachment were approved and transmitted to the Senate.
“When it was approved, it was transmitted as what the Constitution required for the process to proceed to the Senate to try and decide,” he said.
“Di ko alam kung paano nila ifeframe ‘yung kanilang argumento to question the entire process, pero isa lang yung magiging message as taumbayan — ayaw talaga niyang sumagot. Ayaw niya talagang patunayan sa taumbayan na they’re ready to face the charges in the proper forum,” he added.
Despite speculation that Duterte might not personally appear during portions of the trial, Adiong expressed confidence that the Senate impeachment court would handle the proceedings fairly and focus solely on the evidence presented by both sides.
“Sa palagay ko, ang magiging trial ay patas naman ito, impartial naman ito. Ang magiging paksa lang talaga dito ay yung ebidensya na mapoproduce ng prosecution at magagaling naman ang depensa, mga members ng defense team ng respondent ng vice president,” he said.
“So ito na yung pinakademocratic na pinakalegitimate na paraan para isulong itong impeachment trial na sa alam naman natin sa saligang batas ang Senado lang ang mayroon kapangyarihan para pagusapan ito,” he added.
The 11-member House prosecution panel, together with its volunteer private prosecutors, has spent months preparing documentary evidence, witnesses, and legal arguments for the trial.
“Ito na 'yung oras na malalaman na ng taong bayan at mapapakinggan na ng taong bayan yung specific na particular na ebidensya na hindi nakita at hindi narinig nung oras na tayo sa House of Representatives na nagcoconduct ng confirmation hearings," Adiong said.
Vice President Duterte is facing four impeachment charges, including allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats against Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to formally begin on July 6 before the Senate impeachment court, where both the prosecution and defense are expected to present their evidence.
Jul 3, 2026
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