Press conferences not enough to defend VP Duterte vs grave threats, confi funds allegations — Poa

MANILA — Media interviews and press conferences will not be enough to rebut the allegations of grave threats and misuse of confidential funds hurled against Vice President Sara Duterte, her defense counsel said on Tuesday after the Senate impeachment court lifted its sub judice rule on articles of impeachment that the prosecution had already withdrawn.

After 38 days of presenting witnesses and documents against Duterte, the prosecution has formally told the impeachment tribunal that it would drop its case on the vice president’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and grave threats.

The prosecution also dropped the bribery charges against Duterte, the lone article of impeachment that has yet to be tackled in open court.

This means that all camps can now comment on these three articles of impeachment in public without earning an admonition from the court.

“Iba naman yung narinig mo yung salita ng testigo doon sa korte. Iba rin naman yung kami-kami lang ang nagsasabi sa media,” defense spokesperson Michael Poa said in a press conference.

“Papaano na yung mga gusto naming ipatawag na testigo na hindi naman namin masasabi na sa isang presscon?” he said.

Poa declined to say which witnesses they hoped to subpoena before the court for the dropped charges, saying that the defense is still optimistic that they would be allowed to still present their rebuttals before the impeachment tribunal.

“If I may say bluntly, nasiraan mo na yung kliyente ko eh. So hindi naman kami papayag na ganun, kailangan sumagot rin kami,” Poa said.

“We want to be able to present evidence even on those articles that were withdrawn because gusto nating malaman ng ating mga kababayan ang buong katotohanan at hindi yung katotohanan patay sa isang panig lamang,” he said.

“But again, we will leave that up to the court and we will see.”

The Senate impeachment court will resume its trial on November 9, after the Senate hurdles its deliberations for the passage of the 2027 national budget.