Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend the first day of her impeachment trial, defense panel spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters in a press conference on Monday, July 6.

Poa said he spoke to Duterte just minutes before disclosing that she would not personally attend the first day of the trial. He said she was at a planning session with members of the Office of the Vice President in preparation for super typhoon “Bavi,” which will be given the name “Inday” upon entry into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Shortly before the opening of the Impeachment Court at 2 p.m. on Monday, Duterte issued her own statement and explained that appearing through counsel did not diminish accountability.

“The respondent has the right to be represented by counsel, and the decision to personally testify is a matter of legal strategy and constitutional rights,” Duterte said.

“Choosing to appear through counsel rather than testify personally does not diminish accountability or imply a lack of transparency. The integrity of an impeachment trial depends on adherence to the rule of law-not on whether the respondent personally takes the stand,” she added.

Duterte also said that the opinion of a president on impeachment proceedings was of no importance, referring to earlier statements from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Speaking to the media during his state visit to Canada on Saturday, July 4, Marcos Jr. voiced his opinion that an official facing an impeachment trial should attend to make the process easier and that if he were in that position, he would insist on appearing.

READ: Marcos: Impeachment accused should answer questions directly