DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte said on Friday that she is leaving it to her defense team to comment on the lowering of the conviction threshold in her impeachment trial.
Duterte was in Davao City on Friday afternoon, where she attended activities organized by the Davao City government and the Department of Education Davao City Schools Division.
“Sandali ha, kasi pagalitan ako ng mga abugado ko nito eh. So, iwan ko na lang sa spokesperson ng defense team kung ano yung comment nila kasi baka mayroon silang mga iniisip na posibleng masabi ko na hindi pwedeng sabihin sa kanila,” she said.
Duterte also said she is aware of the petition filed by former Executive Secretary Atty. Vic Rodriguez before the Supreme Court questioning the decision of the Senate impeachment court.
“Nabalitaan ko kahapon, mayroong nag-file ng petition sa Supreme Court. Hindi ko pa kasi nabasa yung kanyang petition. So tingnan natin kung ano ang commentng Defense Team,” she said.
The vice president was also asked about the possibility of attending the impeachment trial.
Asked whether she would attend with her lawyers, she said their presence would already mean her appearance and participation in the proceedings.
“Anong ibig sabihin, manood ako doon sa kanilang sarsuela? Well depende. Wala pa namang pagpapatawag sa akin. Sabi ko nga, ang impeachment ay isang legal na process. At yung pagpunta ng aking mga abugado doon ay yun yung aking appearance at participation doon sa proseso na yon,” she said.
Duterte also said she has no information yet on whether her younger brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, will attend the impeachment trial after he was subpoenaed by the impeachment court.
“Wala akong info kung a-attend siya, pero ang napag-usapan namin noon at that time, mayroong subpoena sa kanya. So Sinabihan ko siya, bago pa man lumabas na sabi ko, ‘May subpoena sa’yo’. At sinabi niya na kausapin niya daw yung City Legal Office,” she said.
Amid the developments involving the vice president, she said she has no problem and that her lawyers are handling the impeachment case, while the Office of the Vice President continues with its work.
“Okay lang naman ako. Wala naman akong problema. Yung legal na mga problema ko, tulad ng impeachment at iba’t iba pang kaso, binigay ko sa mga abugado na para asikasuhin nila. Kami sa Office of the Vice President ay tuloy-tuloy lang sa trabaho namin,” she said.
Duterte also commented on current issues, including the recent postponement of the barangay elections and the pardon granted to Mary Jane Veloso.
“Dapat siya hindi pinostpone, pero siyempre kung ano yung nasa batas, yun yung masusunod. So kung mayroong postponement ay yun ang masusunod at yun ang susundin ng Commission on Elections,” she said.