Prosecution panel challenges Sara Duterte to show up in impeachment trial

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After Vice President Sara Duterte called the impeachment complaints lodged against her baseless, House impeachment prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon on Saturday challenged her to show up at her own trial.

Duterte went on a tirade on Friday after arriving for her arraignment at the Quezon City Hall of Justice for her grave threats case, and slammed the impeachment proceedings against her, saying that there was no real evidence.

Ridon thumbed down Duterte’s accusations. The reason that there was a trial in the first place is because there is enough basis, he said.

“Hindi po totoo na walang ebidensiya nape-presenta (It is not true that there is no evidence presented),” Ridon said at the Saturday News Forum.

“Nakakatuwa po ito para sa isang mataas na nahalal na official, na nagsasabi po na wala siyang tiwala sa mga korte ng Pilipinas. Kaya bilang panghuling salita, this is a challenge to the Vice President, magpakita po kayo sa Lunes. Magsisimula na po ang paglahad ng hindi mapaliwanag na yaman ng inyo pong pamilya,” he said.

(It is funny for a high-ranking, elected official to say that she does not trust a court of the Philippines. So as a last word, this is a challenge to the Vice President, show up on Monday. We will lay out your family’s unexplained wealth.)

If she could show up for her grave threats case at the Quezon CIty Regional Trial Court, Duterte could show up at the impeachment trial, Ridon said.

GMA News Online contacted Duterte's spokesperson Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. for comment, but he has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.

On Monday, the prosecution will present the evidence on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

They will present retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Ombudsman Records Division Officer-in-Charge Atty. Karen Batu and Securities and Exchange Commission Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Atty. Gerardo del Rosario as witnesses.

The prosecution has previously forfeited presenting 15 other witnesses, wanting Duterte herself to take up the witness stand. —KG, GMA News