Sara consults lawyers on sub judice rule

Vice President Sara Duterte regularly consults with her lawyers before making public statements about her impeachment case to determine whether her remarks would violate the Senate’s sub judice rule or expose her to contempt, her defense spokesperson said Monday.

Atty. Michael Poa said the defense regularly communicates with Duterte and advises her on restrictions on public commentary and particular statements during the impeachment proceedings.

“We have discussed certain matters where, if you say them, I think they would be covered by the sub judice rule. But if you say other things, I don’t think those would fall under sub judice,” Poa told reporters in Filipino after Monday’s trial proceedings.

“If there are matters she is unsure if they fall under the sub judice rule, she consults us and we give our opinion,” he said.

Duterte herself cited the possibility of being held in contempt when she was asked Monday to comment on her impeachment case.

“I could be held in contempt if I answer questions about the impeachment. My lawyers already have enough problems, and I don’t want to add to them by risking contempt,” she said in an interview during her visit to Banga, South Cotabato.

Asked about calls by the prosecution to call out violative statements regardless of who makes them, Poa agreed that such violations should be addressed consistently.