House Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V expects consistency from Vice President Sara Duterte during the course of her upcoming Senate impeachment trial.

By "consistency", Ortega means to keep on snubbing the proceedings.

Speaking on June 20 during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Ortega said Duterte’s absence from then earlier House Committee on Justice hearings and the pre-trial conference this week were very telling.

Asked if he expects Duterte to attend the eventual impeachment trial, Ortega said. “Ako tingin ko, hindi pa rin siya dadalo (In my view, she still will not attend.)

Ortega said the twice-impeached Vice President had no-showed earlier impeachment proceedings, specifically when the House Committee on Justice put her four impeachment complaints this year to sufficiency tests in terms of form, substance, and grounds.

“Kasi hindi siya dumadalo talaga, kahit noong 19th Congress ‘di siya dumadalo…Sa tingin ko hindi pa rin siya dadalo,” Ortega said, referring to the proceedings from last year.

(Because she really did not attend, even during the 19th Congress she did not attend…In my view she still will not attend.)

He clarified that it was only his "personal opinion" that Duterte would keep up this attitude.

The deputy speaker said non-attendance, non-comment, and non-engagement may be part of the respondent's defense strategy. But Ortega said the public deserves direct answers from the person facing the allegations.

“Maganda na lang manggaling sa, coming from the horse’s mouth, sabi nga nila (It is better if it comes, as they say, directly from the horse’s mouth)," Ortega said.

He said a Vice President, especially one who is planning seek the Palace seat in 2028, is held to a higher standard.

“May obligation ka sa taumbayan na sumagot. You’re held to a higher standard than regular people, regular politicians. Hinalal ka diyan, sagutin mo yung taumbayan,” Ortega said.

(You have an obligation to the people to answer. You’re held to a higher standard than regular people, regular politicians. You were elected, so you must answer the people.)

Ortega says resignation from the vice presidency is a possible strategic option, but he does not personally expect it.

“Idea, yes. Pwedeng option yun kasi strategic option yun. Pero ako, tingin ko, hindi naman, opinion ko, personal kong pananaw, hindi magre-resign,” he added.

(An idea, yes. That could be an option because it is a strategic option. But in my view, no, in my opinion, in my personal perspective, she will not resign.)

Ortega says the Duterte camp wants to avoid a full-blown trial, first by seeking dismissal during the House process and later by seeking dismissal before the Senate.

But he says a Senate trial must happen this year. “Hindi naman po maaari, kailangan po magkaroon ng impeachment trial (That cannot be allowed, there must be an impeachment trial).

Ortega says accountability cannot be avoided by simply refusing to participate in a constitutional process.

“Hindi naman po pwedeeng ganoon na nagbibitaw ka kung may ginagawa ka na wala kang accountability (It cannot be that you just let go when you are doing something without accountability)," he said.

Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.