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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara's avoidance of trial makes her look 'guilty', these deputy speakers say

VP Sara's avoidance of trial makes her look 'guilty', these deputy speakers say

Published Jul 24, 2026 03:00 pm

At A Glance

  • Deputy speakers say absence shows guilt, as Paolo Ortega and Jay Khonghun stress that Vice President Sara Duterte's refusal to attend her impeachment trial makes people think she is guilty.
  • Survey shows public wants answers, with 70 percent of Filipinos saying Duterte should face the constitutional violation charges against her.
  • Khonghun compares avoidance to flight, saying her continued absence is like a suspect fleeing, and asking, "If you're not hiding anything, why do you refuse to face the trial?"
From left: Zambales 1st district Jay Khonghun, Vice President Sara Duterte, La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (Facebook)
From left: Zambales 1st district Jay Khonghun, Vice President Sara Duterte, La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (Facebook)



Two deputy speakers in the House of Representatives can't help but feel that Vice President Sara Duterte's continued refusal to personally answer the charges in her impeachment trial is a sign of guilt.
La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Zambales 1st district Jay Khonghun, both members of the House Young Guns bloc said such avoidance will cause the public to think this way as Duterte's Senate impeachment trial trudges forward.
The respondent, who is currently on a multi-country overseas trip, has yet to attend the proceedings after nine hearing dates.
“That is the natural and logical impression or conclusion people and senator-judges would have if the Vice President remains adamant in not attending her trial,” said Ortega.
Zambales said the result of the newest survey was consistent with previous public opinion polls that showed majority of Filipinos wanted the trial to proceed so the Vice President could answer the charges against her.
“This sentiment has been consistent and overwhelming. The people will get frustrated with the Vice President if she continues to obstinately refuse to heed their clamor,” Khonghun said.
The two were reacting to the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed that 70 percent of adult Filipinos want the Vice President to address the constitutional violation charges against her.
The SWS poll was conducted a week before the impeachment trial started last July 6.
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.
Ortega said people and senator-judges cannot be faulted if the respondent’s continued absence in her trial would lead them to entertain the impression or even conclusion that she was guilty of the charges.
“Ang patuloy na pag-deadma niya sa malakas na panawagan ng taong bayan ay mangangahulugan o magpapakita ng kanyang mistulang kasalanan,” he pointed out.
(Her continued disregard of the strong call of the people would mean or show her apparent guilt.)
Like a criminal who flees
For his part, Khonghun says the Vice President’s situation is akin to that of a suspect in a criminal case who allegedly flees to some foreign destination to escape charges and accountability.
"Lawyers often say that flight may be indicative of guilt. In this case, continued avoidance of the impeachment trial could be viewed in much the same way," Khonghun said.
He said even if the Vice President has the right to not attend her impeachment trial, she should no longer hide behind her defense lawyers, given the persistent call for her to address the charges.
“Kung wala kang tinatago, bakit ayaw mong humarap sa trial?” Khonghun asked.
(If you're not hiding anything, why do you refuse to face the trial?)
Last July 21, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) bared that Duterte would be out of the country from July 16 to 31 for a trip covering Qatar, the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands.

Related Tags

IMPEACHMENT Sara Duterte Paolo Ortega Jay Khonghun Guilty OVP
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