Sara Duterte does not fear impeachment trial outcome, says lead counsel

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte “does not shrink from accountability, nor does she fear the outcome of this impeachment trial,” according to her lead defense counsel Shiela Sison.

Sison made this comment after 13 senators voted to amend the July 6 ruling of Presiding Officer and Sen. Francis Escudero that two-thirds, or at least 16 votes of the 24 elected senators, are needed to convict the vice president.

READ: Escudero maintains: 16 votes needed to convict Sara Duterte

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Only Escudero voted against changing the 16-vote threshold, while six — Senator-judges Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Camille Villar and Robin Padilla — did not participate in the voting.

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“Let it be clear that the respondent does not shrink from accountability, nor does she fear the outcome of this impeachment trial,” Sison told the impeachment court after the voting.

“She asks for nothing spectacular from this court, only the most essential and basic guarantees due to every individual: fairness and impartiality from a court entrusted with upholding the most fundamental principles under our Constitution,” she said.

“We therefore put on record that, even as we understand that this tribunal will proceed as it deems fit, we are nonetheless constrained to place on record that, from this day forward, the respondent’s participation, or any participation that the respondent may have in this trial, shall be with express reservation, or ad cautelam, and that she reserves every right to exhaust all legal remedies available under our laws and the Constitution, in keeping with the essence of a truly free and democratic institution and the right of every citizen to be heard before an impartial court that is neither biased nor intimidated, and that will courageously uphold a fair trial and, ultimately, render a just decision,” the lead counsel added.

Those who voted to amend the July 6 ruling were Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian; Senator-judges Vicente Sotto III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Lito Lapid, Panfilo Lacson, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva and Mark Villar.

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Four of the 24 senators, on the other hand, were notably absent from the proceedings.

Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are currently jailed over plunder charges, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been in hiding since he was ordered arrested by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, while Sen. Loren Legarda has been on medical leave since August. /das