VP lawyers weigh next move

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team will consult her before deciding how to respond to the Senate impeachment court’s ruling on the withdrawal of three impeachment articles and the lifting of restrictions on public discussion of the dropped allegations, defense spokesperson Michael Poa said Tuesday.

Poa said the defense would inform the court of Duterte’s position on the extended ruling concerning Rule 18, which governs the sub judice restrictions on public discussion of pending proceedings.

“Ang gagawin lang namin ngayon (what we will do now) is once makausap namin ng aming kliente, (we speak with our client) of course, the respondent VP, ipapaalam lang namin sa korte kung ano ang kanyang posisyon sa Rule 18 issue na ito, (we will let the court know what her position is on the Rule 18 issue)” Poa told reporters.

The defense is weighing its response after the impeachment court allowed prosecutors to withdraw Articles I, III and IV, covering alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats and related allegations against Duterte. The trial will proceed on Article II, which concerns her alleged unexplained wealth.