MANILA, Philippines — Private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan pushed back against claims that Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team was denied due process in the ongoing impeachment trial, arguing that the defense had been given multiple opportunities to answer the allegations but failed to present substantive counterarguments.
“Now, to say na, you did not give us the chance. You had the chance,” Kapunan said, emphasizing that the defense had sufficient opportunities to respond through its formal answer and during pre-trial proceedings.
Kapunan criticized the defense for repeatedly raising questions over the Senate impeachment court’s jurisdiction and invoking due process, stressing that procedural fairness must apply not only to the Vice President but also to the prosecution and the Filipino people.
“When they say give due process to the vice president, are they thinking about the due process that must be given to the prosecution, to the people?” she asked.
According to Kapunan, the defense had the opportunity to present its position when it filed its answer to the impeachment complaint. However, she claimed that the response merely repeated arguments previously submitted before the House of Representatives.
She further alleged that the defense failed to introduce substantive new arguments during the pre-trial stage, instead mirroring the prosecution’s list of witnesses and documentary evidence.
“They copied our list of witnesses. They copied our list of documents, nothing new,” Kapunan said.
The lawyer maintained that the impeachment proceedings are not solely about protecting the rights of the respondent but also about ensuring accountability for the handling of public funds.
Kapunan emphasized that the House prosecutors represent the Filipino people, who have the right to demand explanations from public officials regarding allegations involving government resources.
“It’s a question of accountability,” she said.
She argued that repeatedly invoking due process without recognizing the prosecution’s rights risks overlooking the public’s interest in obtaining answers about the allegations against the Vice President.
“How is that giving due process naman to the people represented by the prosecution? Right to information, the people’s right to know what happened to their money,” Kapunan said.
“Due process is never one-sided,” she stressed.
Kapunan’s remarks underscored the prosecution’s position that the defense had already been afforded opportunities to respond and that the impeachment proceedings must also uphold the public’s right to accountability.
The defense’s position remains that it must be given a meaningful opportunity to answer the allegations and evidence presented against Duterte.
