The Senate impeachment court has served a subpoena on Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio's chief of staff, requiring her to testify next week. The summons is part of prosecutors' ongoing efforts to present evidence on allegations that Vice-President Duterte threatened President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Malacañang rejected the defense's argument that Vice-President Duterte's threats against the President were merely hypothetical, stating that her own statements showed otherwise. The Palace Press Officer said that Vice-President Duterte's statement about instructing someone to kill the President is not hypothetical and was not imagined or fictional.
The Senate impeachment court spokesman said that the Office of the Vice-President's Central Records Unit received the subpoena at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, requiring Chief of Staff Zuleika T. Lopez to appear before the impeachment court on July 13 and 14. The subpoena includes the phrase "fail not," indicating that Ms. Lopez's attendance is mandatory.
Senate Secretary Renato N. Bantug said that the subpoena was signed by presiding officer Senator Francis Joseph "Chiz" G. Escudero on Wednesday evening. Ms. Lopez visited the Senate on Thursday but declined to comment on whether she would appear before the impeachment court, simply saying, "Prepare for Typhoon Inday."
The court is expected to continue hearing evidence on the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses Vice-President Duterte of making grave threats against President Marcos, First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos, and Leyte Rep. and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, among other allegations. The defense had presented a video of Ms. Lopez claiming her life was threatened while she was detained by the House Good Government Committee in November 2024.
Malacañang dismissed the defense's argument that Vice-President Duterte's alleged threats against the President were merely hypothetical. The Palace Press Officer stated that the Executive branch would not comment on the merits of the impeachment proceedings, as it is the Senate's responsibility to assess the case.
Vice-President Duterte has denied all allegations against her. The Senate impeachment court will continue to hear evidence on the allegations, with Ms. Lopez's testimony scheduled for July 13 and 14.
