- VP Sara in Senate premises but skips 2nd day impeachment trial
VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte arrived at the Senate on Tuesday, July 7, but skipped the second day of the impeachment hearing despite a plea from the prosecution to get her subpoenaed as a hostile witness.
Her arrival sent the Senate into near-lockdown, with security forces tightening perimeters around the Pasay City complex to control anticipated crowds and media scuffles.
The Vice President gave a brief but emotionally charged statement to reporters waiting at the Senate entrance, invoking poetic themes of resilience under heavy political fire.
“In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed,” Duterte told reporters.
Despite her arrival at the legislative building, her legal team moved quickly to clarify that the Vice President would not be taking the stand or facing the senator-judges inside the plenary session hall today.
Atty. Michael Poa, one of the lead defense counsels, confirmed to reporters that Duterte’s physical presence at the Senate was strictly operational.
Duterte came exclusively to meet with her defense team in their designated holding area to review tactical strategy as the trial progresses. But she will not be formally presenting herself before the Senate impeachment court, maintaining her team’s strategy regarding direct cross-examination.
Atty Lorna Kapunan, one of the private prosecutors in the impeachment trial, pointed out Duterte’s presence in the Senate and if it would be possible for the senator-judges to issue a subpoena for the second-highest official to present herself before the court.
However, Presiding Senator-Judge Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero thumbed down the motion, insisting that the impeachment rules do not require the respondent to be present in the trial as she is amply represented by her defense team.
