MANILA – A House impeachment prosecutor said Vice President Sara Duterte, and not just her lawyers, should personally appear at the opening of her impeachment trial before the Senate on July 6.

In a repot, it said that Rep. Terry Ridon made the statement after the Senate impeachment court directed Duterte to appear “in person or through counsel” during the start of the proceedings.

Ridon said the Vice President should personally face the impeachment court, recalling her previous statement that she wanted a “blood bath” during the trial.

“Hindi na po ito House Committee on Justice. Senate impeachment court na po ito. Supposedly, bloodbath ang hinahanap, hindi ba? Parang ‘yun pong magdadala ng bloodbath ‘yung dapat pong nandoon, hindi pong mga abogado,” Ridon said.

He added that while attending the trial is ultimately Duterte’s decision, her presence would reflect her respect for the impeachment proceedings and the Senate impeachment court.

“Nasa balikat po niya ‘yung pagpapasya na magpunta o hindi. Pero syempre, ang hindi po niya pagpunta ay magpapakita ng kanyang pagtingin dito po sa paglilitis na ito at doon po sa Senate impeachment court itself. So, tingin ko mas maganda na hindi po iasa sa abogado lamang po ng Pangalawang Pangulo ‘yun pong pagharap sa paglilitis. Maganda na sa unang araw, na talagang in-order naman po siya ng Senate Impeachment Court, na magpakita po siya doon bilang paggalang sa atin pong Senate Impeachment.”

Meanwhile, prosecution panel legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the decision to appear in person rests solely with the Vice President.

“We understand that the public are expecting and demanding that she appear and explain… At the end of the day, people have been commenting that she should face this in person, give her explanation, why she made those threats, answer the allegations about unexplained wealth, and all of these things. But at the end of the day, that’s her call,” Tolosa said.

Tolosa said the prosecution has received the Senate impeachment court’s notice for the July 6 trial and is prepared to present its case.

He also confirmed that the entry of appearance of the second batch of private prosecutors, including himself, was filed before the impeachment court last Wednesday.

On Monday, Tolosa said the prosecution expects the impeachment court to resolve pending procedural matters, including who will preside over the trial and the issue involving a sealed box containing records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“This will contain the ITRs (income tax records) of the respondent, her husband, and their financial interest. So dito natin makikita ano ang declared income. Importante ito dahil susuriin ito at ibabangga doon naman sa kanyang SALN. Diyan makikita ano ang idineklarang kabuuang ‘yaman niya. Makkikita kung nagtutugma. Ang position ng prosecution… there’s discrepancy between the two,” Tolosa said.

Both the prosecution and the defense are expected to deliver opening statements before the presentation of evidence.

Tolosa said the prosecution is prepared to present at least one witness on the first day of trial and oppose any attempt to have the impeachment complaint dismissed without a full hearing.

“Of course, we will vehemently object to them and we’re ready to interpose a strong legal argument. Under the Constitution, once the matter has already reached the Senate, the Senate must hear the parties, give them opportunity to present evidence, in other words, proceed with the trial, and then render verdicts,” Tolosa said.

Members of the prosecution panel met on Friday to finalize their strategy ahead of the start of the impeachment trial.