As the Senate formally opened the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, the country’s second-highest official pushed back against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s remarks, saying a president’s personal views have no place in proceedings that should be governed solely by the Constitution and the rule of law.

In a statement issued shortly before the Senate convened as an impeachment court, Duterte rejected suggestions that she should personally take the witness stand, stressing that whether an impeached official appears in person or through legal counsel is a constitutional right — not a matter of public expectation.

“The opinion of a President in an impeachment proceeding is of no importance,” Duterte said.

“Impeachment proceedings must be guided by the Constitution and due process. 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,” she said.

Her statement came after Marcos said over the weekend that if he were in Duterte’s position, he would “almost insist” on testifying before the impeachment court even if his lawyers advised against it.

“It would be much easier to get to the bottom of everything if you can speak to the accused directly,” Marcos said, while emphasizing that he was expressing a personal opinion rather than a legal one.

Duterte, however, argued that the outcome of an impeachment trial does not depend on whether the respondent personally takes the stand.

“The burden remains on the prosecution to prove its case. 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 said.

Under the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, a respondent may appear either personally or through counsel, leaving the decision to the defense panel.

Duterte’s lawyers have previously said any decision on her personal appearance would depend on developments during the proceedings.

The Vice President also urged public officials to refrain from injecting their personal opinions into matters pending before constitutional bodies.

“At all times, public officials are best served by keeping their personal opinions to themselves and relying instead on the law, established policies, scientific evidence, and objective facts when addressing matters of public concern,” she said.

The impeachment trial marks the latest chapter in the deepening political rift between Marcos and Duterte, whose once-powerful UniTeam alliance has unraveled into one of the country’s most consequential political rivalries.

What began as policy disagreements has escalated into an impeachment battle that could shape not only Duterte’s political future but also the landscape of the 2028 presidential race.