Lawyer Joel Arzaga, managing partner of Arzaga and Associates Law Office, said he would not advise Vice President Sara Duterte to take the witness stand in her impeachment trial, saying her “emotional outbursts” could hurt her.
Arzaga said the prosecution carries the burden of proving its case and should be able to do so without relying on the accused to testify.
“If I were part of VP Sarah’s defense, I would not advise her to take the witness stand,” Arzaga said during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
He said allowing Duterte to testify would open her to questions that could put her in an uncomfortable position and create opportunities for the prosecution to attack her testimony.
“It opens up all doors of opportunities for VP Sarah to be attacked, to be faced with questions that she might not be comfortable with,” Arzaga said.
Arzaga also pointed to Duterte’s tendency to become emotional, saying this could lead to unguarded statements that may eventually be used against her.
“And we know that the VP could be emotional at times, which is what got her in trouble in one of those press briefings,” he said.
“There could be unguarded moments in which, you see, she utters more statements that could backfire and that could be detrimental to her,” he added.
Arzaga’s statement came as the impeachment proceedings against Duterte continue with the prosecution expected to present evidence to support the allegations against the Vice President.#