With her defense team already fully representing her in the case, Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 19, said her personal attendance at the impeachment proceedings would not necessarily speed up the process.

In an ambush interview in Zamboanga City, Duterte rejected claims that the Senate impeachment trial would proceed faster if she personally attended the proceedings.

“Hindi po totoo yun kasi fully represented ako noong ating defense team at sufficient yan na meron kang mga abogado doon na nagpa-participate doon sa process, yun ay para na rin pagdalo ng respondent sa impeachment” (That isn't true because I am fully represented by our defense team, and having your lawyers participate in the process is sufficient. That already counts as the respondent's attendance in the impeachment), Duterte said.

Duterte said her physical presence would not necessarily contribute to the proceedings because she is not a lawyer handling her impeachment case.

“Dahil hindi naman ako abogado para sa impeachment doon so wala akong matutulong doon sa proseso ng pag-present ng witness, cross-examine ng witness, lahat yun ay trabaho” (Since I am not a lawyer for the impeachment, I wouldn't be able to help with the process of presenting witnesses or cross-examining witnesses, as all of that is their job), she said.

Duterte said she trusts her lawyers to handle the legal proceedings, including the presentation and cross-examination of witnesses.

She also noted that the participation of her defense lawyers constitutes her appearance as the respondent in the impeachment proceedings.

“At yan yung participation at appearance ko doon” (And that serves as my participation and appearance there), she added.

Duterte said she has given her full trust to her defense team to handle the proceedings on her behalf.

While saying her personal attendance would not accelerate the proceedings, Duterte urged that the impeachment process be resolved quickly.

“Meron po kami spokesperson sa impeachment at binibigay ko po ang buong tiwala ko sa aming defense team at gusto lang sana namin ay mapabilis yung proseso dahil hindi pwedeng tumatagal yung proseso natin” (We have a spokesperson for the impeachment, and I am giving my full trust to our defense team. We just hope that the process can be expedited because it cannot take too long), she said.

Duterte said a prolonged impeachment process could leave the public uncertain about the allegations against her and whether she committed any wrongdoing.

“Nag-iisip yung mga tao, ano ba totoo ba na may ginawang masama, hindi ba totoo yung mga akusasyon” (People are wondering, is it true that something wrong was done, or are the accusations untrue?), she said.

Duterte also cited the Constitution in arguing that the proceedings should be resolved without undue delay.

“So dapat mabilis yung proseso kasi sa ating Constitution nandiyan yung speedy administration” (So the process needs to be fast because our Constitution guarantees speedy administration), she added.