Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday reaffirmed her commitment to assess fairly all evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“When we took our oath as senator-judges, it became our duty in the Senate to review and vote according to the weight of the evidence that both sides will present in the impeachment trial,” Hontiveros said.
The human rights advocate and seasoned legislator emphasized that their duty as senator-judges applies whether the vice president is an ally or a critic, and that she intends to uphold this responsibility and expects her fellow senators to do the same.
Hontiveros noted it would be constructive for Duterte to submit an answer to the summons issued by the Senate impeachment court last week.
The summons was formally sent as part of the trial’s procedural requirements.
“We are all waiting for her (Duterte’s) response to this, as well as to the next steps in the impeachment process,” Hontiveros said.
