President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said it would be “much easier” for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to face the Senate impeachment court to respond to the allegations thrown at her.
If he were Duterte, he would insist on attending the impeachment trial, Marcos said.
“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 told reporters following his four-day official visit to Canada.
“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.”
In a July 2 notice signed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian as presiding officer, the Senate impeachment court, summoned Duterte to appear at the start of the trial on July 6, either in person or through her counsel.
Duterte is facing four articles of impeachment over alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a media interview at the Sutton Place Hotel here on Friday, said Duterte should use the impeachment trial as an opportunity to clear her name. (PNA)