Amid the Impeachment Process, VP Sara Duterte’s Lawyer Speaks on Upcoming ‘Mini-Trial’ in House
SARA DUTERTE’S LAWYER – Atty. Michael Poa pointed out that the personal attendance of the Vice President to the hearing of the House is ‘not required’.
Fresh impeachment complaints were filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte before the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives last February. The House Justice Committee set aside the first impeachment rap for violating the one year rule ban.
Tindig Pilipinas, the complainants behind the second impeachment complaint against Duterte, withdrew their impeachment rap and decided to throw their support to the third impeachment complaint.
According to the complainants of the second impeachment rap, they decided to withdraw the complaint to avoid procedural delay. The House Justice Committee found the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte sufficient in grounds.
Here are the grounds that were cited by the complainants behind the third impeachment case against the Vice President:
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyer, Michael Poa, previously claimed that they already expected the filing of impeachment complaints against the Vice President. The legal team of Duterte is composed of 16 lawyers who are the following:
- Gregorio Narvasa II
- Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
- Justin Nicol Gular
- David Ronell Golla VII
- Lindon Miguel Bacquel
- Karol Grace Oroceo
- Clarlaine Radoc
- Francesca Marie Flores
- Miguel Carlos Fernandez
- Michael Wesley Poa
- Reynold Munsayac
- Mark Vinluan
- Ralph Bodota
- Roberto Batungbacal
Following the House Justice panel ruling on the sufficiency of the grounds of the impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the dates for the hearings were set. The House Committee on Justice is authorized to continue with the legal proceedings of the impeachment amid the Congressional recess which is from March 21 until May 3.
Amid the House Justice panel’s invitation to the Vice President as well as the complaints, based on a report of News5, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, pointed out that the Vice President is supposedly not required to attend the hearing.
“[There] is no requirement under the applicable rules for her personal attendance. Any decision in that regard will be made in accordance with her rights and upon the advice of counsel,” Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyer said.
Based on the post, House Justice panel Gervilla Luistro previously recognized that the attendance to the hearing is a prerogative of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The House previously issued a warning against Duterte if she will not attend the ‘mini-trial’ set on March 25.
