By: Ardy Araneta Batoy

This edition of VOX POPULI is featuring the netizens’ reactions, responses and comments to the question posted on the FB wall of the Managing Editor of The Bohol Tribune.

The question is: “Para kanimo, kinahanglan ba gyud nga muatubang, face to face, si VP Sarah Duterte sa impeachment trial?” (If you were to be asked, does Vice President Sara Duterte really need to face the impeachment trial in person?)

  The responses from the netizens were:  

  • from Marilou Uy Rollorata: A big Yes para e defend Yong sarili nya, she is a lawyer, para malaman if she is innocent or guilty.
  •  from KahlilLester Camba: Not mandatory. Naa naman ang defense team Mam Ardy Ines Araneta Batoy.
  • From Raul Gatal: It’s seems nga ang na bludgeon kay ang defense team. I hope she shows up as a respect for the inst.itution. Her presence alone would speak volumes and make for a great TV moment.
  •  from Angelo Balili: Yes! even If only to show respect for the institution and its democratic processes. This early, Sara is showing her disregard for the constitution. I shudder at the thought of what she is capable of doing if given the chance to become a President.
  •  from Dennise Olar Dosdos: Yes, I would contend that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to personally attend every session of her impeachment trial. The stronger legal argument, however, is not that she can simply ignore the Senate; it is that personal, face-to-face attendance is not an indispensable condition for the Senate to validly continue the impeachment trial, provided her defense is properly represented and she is afforded the opportunity to answer the charges.

Impeachment is fundamentally different from an ordinary criminal trial. An impeachment proceeding is not a criminal prosecution.

Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. The Senate is therefore exercising a special constitutional and political function, rather than acting as an ordinary trial court determining criminal liability.

This distinction is important because the constitutional rules governing criminal prosecutions should not automatically be transplanted into an impeachment proceeding.

The UP College of Law Impeachment Primer expressly states:

In an impeachment trial, the impeached official may appear in person or send a representative or counsel to plead for her, unlike in a criminal case. If she refuses to appear or plead, the Senate continues the trial as if she pleaded “not guilty.”

The Senate’s own impeachment rules do not require her physical presence.

Under Rule IX of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, when the respondent is called to answer the Articles of Impeachment: if she appears personally, her appearance is recorded; if another person appears for her, such as an agent or attorney, that appearance is likewise recorded; and if neither she nor her representative appears, that fact is simply recorded.

The rule does not say that the respondent’s personal physical attendance is a prerequisite for the trial to proceed.

More importantly, Rule XIII expressly provides for counsel to appear and be heard on behalf of the parties.

 This is consistent with what happened when the trial actually commenced in July 2026: Vice President Duterte did not personally attend the opening of the trial, but her lawyers appeared on her behalf. The Senate proceeded with the trial.

The Senate’s presiding officer, Senator Francis Escudero, subsequently clarified that the Senate impeachment rules do not require the Vice President’s personal attendance and permit participation through counsel.

  •  from RG Loberts: I think it’s not mandatory for VP Sara to personally appear before the Impeachment Court Maam Ardy, bcuz she’s already represented by young competent & dynamic defense lawyers as can be shown in the ongoing trial. Perhaps, the law or the Rules of Impeachment does not require her or otherwise to attend in any stage of the trial.
  •  from EnriqueIv Madanguit: Ang institusyon nga naghimo ug impeachment labaw pong KORAKOT maong dili dapat mo attend. Ang maayo nilang buhaton magbotuhan na para makaminus ug gasto. 
  • from EnriqueIv Madanguit: Dili angay perug eapil si BBM ug ubang naay CF dapat lang kay para nako ang CF dakong KAWAT KANA SA BUHES NATO gawas sa ahensiya nga may katakos ug mao gayoy ilang trabaho.
  • from Froilan Caderao: Yes Mam Ardy She is needed to face in the impeach court to answer all the allegations of the prosecutions witnesses. 
  • Samuel Belderol: Aron maila asa ang bloodbath!!!! 
  •  from Riza P. Manigque: Yes. Kay isip public official, responsibilidad niya nga personal nga moatubang ug motubag sa mga alegasyon. Para nako, mas makita ang transparency ug accountability kung siya mismo ang mohatag sa iyang panig. 
  • from Prima Frias: Yes maam. As a role model.
  • from Roberta Delusa: Naa ra sa desisyon ni VP Sarah piro dan pod kinahanglan kay naa man siyay abogado nga gikasaligan aron motubag
  •  from Jeconias Ursos: No need…. Better STOP THE CIRCUS. USIK2x kwarta sa katawhan.
  •  from Benjie Oliva: Dapat atubangon jud ang mga pasangil. Kay kung ako lang ana pasanginlan Dili lang Kay akoa atubangon akoa pa na sila bunalan! Hehehe. 
  • from Ma Belle: Yes. 
  •  from Dennis Canda: Yes.   
  •  from Allan Gahit: No need na for me.. Strong kaayo ang defense team nya. 
  •  from Perds Dompor Sumampong: Hindi naman required. Nasa kanya ang decision.
  •   from Normandie Jr Damo Ines: You think that accountability to the people exempt inday lustay, you think she is above the law or maybe she is untouchable???
  •  from Dominic Veloso: Sheminet answer all allegations thrown to her. He he he.

Aside from netizens giving their comments, the following also expressed their reaction of “LIKE” to the statement:

Lopez Paul Carl, Madelone Rengel, Elvie AraSol, Elmer Gatab, Manuel Iyog, Bobsie Rubillar Uy, Riza P. Manigque, Jeconias Ursos, Pauline Lim-Ramos, Mindap Araneta, Juvy Lasyone, Raul Gatal, Dominic Veloso, Mayongski Merca, Normandie Jr Damo Ines, Adnan Villaluna Alonto, Chavez B. Nenita, Ellen Simbajon, Elaine Chatto Galido, Bubuy Dalagan, Julius Buñol Agilles, Honey Ann Lee.