Lawyer Joel Arzaga said Vice President Sara Duterte’s appearance in the impeachment trial could be a risky move for the House prosecution as her testimony could either bolster the case against her or strengthen her bid for the presidency.
Arzaga, managing partner of Arzaga and Associates Law Office, said the prosecution could gain from questioning Duterte on the witness stand but could also give the Vice President a national platform to defend herself and control the narrative.
“Definitely it’s a risky move which could yield great rewards for the prosecution but could also potentially sway for VP Sara,” Arzaga said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront hosted by Atty. Karen Jimeno.
By calling Duterte to the witness stand, Arzaga said the prosecution would have an opportunity to ask her difficult questions that could provoke reflection among the senator-judges and the public.
For Duterte, however, taking the witness stand would give her an opportunity to defend herself before a nationwide audience.
“She gets an opportunity to own the narrative and she gets an opportunity to defend herself before a national platform,” Arzaga said.
Arzaga said Duterte could potentially use the opportunity to strengthen her presidential ambitions by noting that she continues to lead presidential surveys and maintain high trust and approval ratings.
“If she shows up and performs well then it will be advantageous to her case and to her political plans,” he said.
However, he said the outcome would largely depend on the questions that the prosecution would ask Duterte.
Arzaga said prosecutors would likely try to put the Vice President under pressure, provoke an emotional response and possibly secure an admission or controversial statement from her.
“The prosecution I’m sure will also try to put VP Sara under pressure perhaps to try to stir her emotions and perhaps even attempt to get an admission from her if at the very least not controversial statements coming from the vice president,” he said.#