Jaehwa Bernardo

Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate on July 8, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Duterte's Senate visit not 'clickbait,' says lawyer

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783495508635SARA2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate on July 8, 2026.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s defense team in her impeachment trial on Wednesday rejected the prosecution&#x27;s claim that the official&#x27;s visit to the Senate a day earlier was &quot;clickbait.&quot;</p><p><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/duterte-security-team-at-senate-no-confirmation-if-vp-to-attend-trial-1127">Duterte went to the Senate on Tuesday</a> to meet with her legal team but did not attend the impeachment trial that took place in the afternoon — a visit that House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega later described as &quot;clickbait.&quot;</p><p>“Wala kaming schedule, &#x27;yong kahapon biglaan lang that we ask for meeting - that she was available, she wanted to thank everyone in the defense team in person. Pero kung kailan siya pupunta next, hindi pa po namin alam,” Poa told reporters.</p><p>“He’s entitled to think what ever he wants to thinks about it - I respect Rep. Ortega but sa amin, sinabi ko lang sa inyo kung ano yung totoo. In fact, when I came in here, ayaw ko nang mag-expect kayo so,  sinabi ko na agad sa inyo na she only here for a meeting with us,” Poa added.</p><p>Poa said the defense team has also not discussed the possibility of Duterte being called as a hostile witness by the prosecution, but added that there would always be legal remedies available to their client if prosecutors insist on putting her on the stand.</p><p>He was reacting to the prosecution&#x27;s revelation on Tuesday that it was open to calling Duterte as a witness during proceedings on allegations that she threatened  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family.</p><p>“Right now, wala kaming nalagay na ganyan sa pre-trial brief. There will always be remedies - especially if the issue is her fundamental rights under the constitution. Tingnan po muna natin, I don’t want to preempt the presiding officer and also the senator-judges,” said Poa.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-prosecution-reserves-right-to-call-vp-as-witness-in-threat-case-1741"><strong>READ: Prosecution reserves right to call VP Duterte as witness in threat allegation<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Isa yan sa mga bagay na available to us. Kahit kahapon nabanggit ng presiding officer - tingnan po muna natin. Kasi mahirap magsalita habang wala pa naman yung motion ng prosecution. Definitely, were aware of the remedies available to us - siyempre it will be done in consultation also with the Vice President,” Poa added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SEN. MARCOLETA’S ABSENCE</strong></div><p>Poa said the absence of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta at the trial, should he continue to be disallowed from participating in the proceedings, will in fact, be in favor of the defense.</p><p>“Nababanggit naman sa impeachment court - if hindi  ka makapag-participate one way or the other then thats actually in favor of the defense ‘coz abstain ang mangyayari or no vote. Medyo masalimuot, were just talking here as theoretical sense - hintayin na lang natin kung may maghain ng petisyon then we will comment,” Poa said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/cayetano-wants-marcoleta-jinggoy-at-duterte-impeachment-trial-1748"><strong> READ: Cayetano wants Marcoleta, Jinggoy at Duterte impeachment trial</strong></a></div><p>Poa said he was no longer privy to what transpired during Duterte&#x27;s visit to Marcoleta at the PNP General Hospital on Tuesday.</p><p>Marcoleta is currently <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/marcoleta-arrest-plunder-1023"><strong>detained for plunder chargers</strong></a> over allegations that he did not disclose P75 million in campaign donations.</p><p>On Wednesday, the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, continued hearing the impeachment case against Duterte, focusing on the threat allegations.</p>

<p>The spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team in her impeachment trial on Wednesday rejected the prosecution's claim that the official's visit to the Senate a day earlier was 'clickbait.'</p>

The spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team in her impeachment trial on Wednesday rejected the prosecution's claim that the official's visit to the Senate a day earlier was 'clickbait.'