Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – A House prosecutor on Saturday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally appear before the Senate impeachment court when proceedings resume next week, saying Filipinos deserve to see her answer the allegations against her instead of leaving the task solely to her lawyers.</p><p>House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Duterte should personally attend the impeachment trial, citing the example of late former Chief Justice Renato Corona, who regularly appeared before the impeachment court during his 2012 trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/sara-duterte-on-overseas-trip-as-impeachment-trial-enters-day-8-1526">Sara Duterte leaves for overseas trip</a></div><p>“Ang panawagan naman po talaga ng mga kababayan natin, humarap po talaga siya sa paglilitis. At harapin po talaga ’yung mga usapin. Hindi ho magpunta kung saan man ho siya nagpupunta,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.</p><p>Ridon said Duterte has not personally attended the proceedings over the past three weeks.</p><p>“Mahalaga po talaga na hindi po iwanan ng ating pong Pangalawang Pangulo sa kanyang pong mga abogado ’yung pagharap sa usapin po na ito. We have seen it in the Corona impeachment proceedings, na Chief Justice Corona was there,” he said.</p><p>Still, Ridon acknowledged that whether Duterte appears before the impeachment court is ultimately her decision.</p><p>“So, we leave it to her. If that is her way of coping with this particular proceeding, then we will let her be,” he said.</p><p>The Office of the Vice President earlier confirmed that Duterte is on an overseas trip from July 16 to 31, with scheduled visits to Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. </p><p>According to the OVP, the trip includes official engagements with OFWs as well as personal activities. It also said no government funds are being used for the travel, while Malacañang confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted Duterte travel authority. </p><p>The OVP said the Vice President would meet with Filipino communities abroad and fulfill previously scheduled commitments before returning to the Philippines at the end of the month. </p><p>Her defense team has earlier maintained that Duterte’s personal attendance is not required under the impeachment rules and that she may participate in the proceedings through her lawyers. </p><p>The camp has also said the overseas trip had been planned before the impeachment court finalized its trial calendar and should not be interpreted as an attempt to avoid the proceedings.</p><p>Defense spokespersons have also stressed that Duterte remains committed to facing the charges through the legal process and will comply with orders issued by the Senate impeachment court.</p><p>The Senate impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on July 29, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 28.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/gatchalian-says-sara-duterte-trial-could-last-over-a-year-1703">Gatchalian says Sara Duterte trial could last over a year</a></div><p>The impeachment court is expected to continue hearing Article 4 of the Articles of Impeachment. Earlier this week, the prosecution completed the presentation of its witnesses for the article after senators <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoenas-duterte-bank-records-1730">approved</a> subpoenas for the Vice President’s bank and tax records.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/diokno-duterte-bank-tax-records-impeachment-trial-1516">&#x27;Truth is not confidential&#x27;: Prosecution says VP Sara&#x27;s bank, tax records relevant to impeachment trial</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/sara-duterte-popularity-doesn-t-give-her-free-pass-to-commit-crime-prosecutor-says-1149">&#x27;May batas tayo&#x27;: Sara Duterte popularity doesn&#x27;t give her free pass to commit crime, prosecutor says</a></div>

<p>A House prosecutor on Saturday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally appear before the Senate impeachment court when proceedings resume next week, saying Filipinos deserve to see her answer the allegations against her instead of leaving the task solely to her lawyers.</p>

A House prosecutor on Saturday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally appear before the Senate impeachment court when proceedings resume next week, saying Filipinos deserve to see her answer the allegations against her instead of leaving the task solely to her lawyers.

House prosecutor urges VP Sara to personally appear at impeachment trial

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House prosecutor urges VP Sara to personally appear at impeachment trial

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 25, 2026 03:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Duterte impeachment

Terry Ridon

House prosecutors

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