By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Malacañang is leaving it to the Senate impeachment court to decide whether Vice President Sara Duterte should be compelled to testify in her own impeachment trial.
Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Wednesday that the administration would not interfere with the senator-judges’ decision on the prosecution’s plan to call Duterte to the witness stand.
“If that is what the prosecution wants and if the Senate allows it, then the matter rests with the Senate,” Castro said.
She noted, however, that the Palace was uncertain whether the move was being made at the appropriate stage of the proceedings.
The House prosecution panel announced Tuesday that it was dropping its remaining 15 witnesses in connection with allegations involving the alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds.
Instead, prosecutors said they intended to call Duterte herself to testify and address the allegations against her.
Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said the evidence already presented pointed to Duterte as the person accountable for the alleged irregularities.
The prosecution has not yet asked the Senate to issue a subpoena, saying it plans to complete the presentation of evidence covering all four impeachment articles before seeking Duterte’s testimony.
Kapunan said the Vice President’s testimony would be relevant to all four allegations: grave threats, misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and bribery.
Duterte’s defense team, however, objected to the prosecution’s move, invoking her constitutional right against self-incrimination.
Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison cited Article III, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself or herself.
Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol said oral arguments could be held if prosecutors formally seek a subpoena compelling Duterte to testify.
Tongol also pointed out that the proceedings would be simpler if Duterte voluntarily appeared as a witness, citing former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s decision to testify during his own impeachment trial in 2012.
Ultimately, Tongol said, the decision remains with Duterte on whether she will voluntarily take the witness stand.
For now, the prosecution must still determine whether to formally seek a subpoena, while the Senate
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