Hontiveros must inhibit in trial if Duterte allies are asked to do so - Sara

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte said senator-judges who have shown a dislike of her - such as Risa Hontiveros - must inhibit in her impeachment trial if Duterte supporters will be asked to do the same.

Duterte issued the remark in a press briefing in Davao City on Monday, June 16, when asked about her view on calls for senator-judges vocal about their support for her family to inhibit from the looming trial.

“Dahil ang position lang naman ng isang tao is you are for or against Inday Sara. Kung ganoon ng ating basehan sa inhibition ay dapat din natin ipa-inhibit doon ang mga senators na meron ding bias against Sara Duterte katulad na lang ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros,” she said.

[Translation: Because the position can only be either you are or for against Duterte. So if that is the basis of the inhibition, then senators biased against Duterte like Risa Hontiveros should inhibit as well.]

The vice president then accused Hontiveros of making a public stance to destroy her family.

She said senator-judges should be given the benefit of the doubt that they will be impartial in holding the trial.

Last week, Senator-judges Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos were spotted with the vice president in an event in Malaysia.

Padilla and Marcos are among the 18 senator judges who voted to remand the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives - even without the benefit of it being read in the Impeachment Court by the House prosecution team.

Duterte endorsed in the midterm elections re-electionists Marcos, Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and newcomers Rodante Marcoleta and Camille Villar.

As a senator-judge, Dela Rosa even moved to dismiss the charges brought by the House of Representatives even without a petition from Duterte herself or her lawyers.

Meanwhile, in a press briefing, Senate President Chiz Escudero said the inhibition of a senator-judge in the trial cannot be forced.

“It is voluntary on the part of the impeachment court judge at hindi ‘yan pwede ipilit sa sinuman pabor man kay VP Sara o kontra man kay VP Sara,” he said.

“Hindi kami pwede magbotohan na ii-inhibit siya. Walang ganung proseso. Ang proseso ay ikaw ang bahala kung gusto mo mag-recuse o mag-inhibit,” Escudero added.

[Translation: It is voluntary on the part of the impeachment court judge and it shouldn’t be forced whether they are in favor or against Duterte…We cannot vote if they will inhibit or not. There is no process like that. The process is, it depends on you to recuse or inhibit.]

The 24-members Impeachment Court needs a two-thirds vote, or 16 members, to convict Duterte. Failure to reach the number means an acquittal.