Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III stated that Vice President Sara Duterte is not legally required to appear in person at an impeachment trial if the articles of impeachment reach the Senate, but he strongly advised her attendance for a more effective defense.
No Compulsory Appearance Under Impeachment Rules
According to Sotto, existing impeachment rules do not compel an accused official to face the trial. However, he emphasized that "it is better to attend" to properly explain one's side. He compared the situation to past impeachment cases: former President Joseph Estrada did not attend his trial, while former Chief Justice Renato Corona personally appeared before the Senate before being convicted and removed from office.
Next Steps for Impeachment Articles
Sotto clarified that if the impeachment articles reach the Senate, they will be immediately reported to the plenary and referred to the committee on rules as part of the process. He also plans to conduct a pre-trial before the actual impeachment trial to avoid confusion in presenting evidence, based on the experience of the Corona impeachment in 2012. Under impeachment rules, a pre-trial is allowed and important for a smoother proceeding in the Senate.
