House prosecutors are planning to formally request the appearance of Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate impeachment court once all four articles of impeachment are fully presented.
Bukidnon 2nd District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, a member of the prosecution panel, revealed the strategy during a press briefing following the 23rd day of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, September 8.
Flores explained that waiting until all charges are laid out will enable the Vice President to address every allegation in a single session rather than piecemeal.
“She can answer on several issues, several articles, di ba? So, it’s not like you call her for confidential funds and just ask her about confidential funds,” Flores said.
The prosecution aims to optimize the timing of her testimony so she can directly respond to allegations involving confidential funds, alleged unexplained wealth, bribery, as well as reported grave threats and an alleged assassination plot.
“We want to present her siguro at the most… The best time where she could be just asked once for all of the articles of impeachment na pending,” Flores added.
Following the conclusion of its presentation on Article I—which focuses on the alleged misuse of confidential funds—the prosecution panel plans to meet to determine its next steps.
The panel will begin presenting Article II, concerning alleged unexplained wealth, next week.
Commenting on whether the Vice President would honor a formal invitation, La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega V remarked that there is only a 5 percent chance she would show up, citing her absence during previous proceedings.
No specific date has been set for the proposed invitation, as prosecutors remain focused on ensuring her testimony covers all four articles of impeachment at once.