The House prosecution panel is neither affected nor distracted by the constant guessing game on whether or not the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte is going to surface during a given trial date.

According House impeachment adviser Robert Ace Barbers and private prosecutor lawyer Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr., the prosecution team won't change its strategy for the impeachment trial based on the respondent's attendance or non-attendance.

“Well sa tingin ko, hindi naman makakaapekto ’yun. Dahil as we always say and always state that the prosecution team is prepared to do their direct examination sa witnesses at mga ebidensyang inilatag natin,” Barbers said in a press conference on Monday, July 13.

(Well, I don’t think that will have any effect. Because as we always say and always state, the prosecution team is prepared to conduct direct examination of the witnesses and the evidence we have presented.)

“So kahit sinong umattend, wala naman pong epekto ’yan sa pag-conduct ng direct examination doon sa ating witnesses,” added Barbers, who like Tolosa wears the hat of prosecution spokesperson.

(So whoever attends, it really has no effect on the conduct of direct examination of our witnesses.)

Tolosa said during the same presser: “Again, regardless of who will be there, respondent or anyone else, the strategy of the prosecution remains the same, that we’ll present evidence in a proper and efficient and effective manner."

Presiding officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero had earlier ruled that Vice President Duterte doesn't need to personally appear in court as she was amply represented by her counsels.

But personally speaking, Barbers and Tolosa said it would serve Duterte better to attend the high-stakes proceedings

“Sa aking palagay, mas makakabuti na umattend ang ating pangalawang pangulo nang sa gayon, marinig natin kung ano ang sagot doon sa mga alegasyon na inilatag dito sa Articles of Impeachment na inihain ng ating House of Representatives,” said Barbers.

(In my view, it would be better if our Vice President attends so that we can hear what the response is to the allegations laid out in the Articles of Impeachment filed by our House of Representatives.)

“At the very least, this will show that she’s finally heeding the call of the people, asking her to show respect to the constitutional process and to the impeachment court by facing these charges in person, and letting the people hear how she will answer these serious allegations,” Tolosa pointed out.

Over the weekend, solon-prosecutor San Juan City lone district Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora noted that the public had waited long enough for the impeachment trial to begin. And now that it is underway, the prosecution hopes to see the Vice President face the impeachment court and answer the allegations against herself like how the late Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona did.

“Ang ating public ay ‘yun din ang kagustuhan dahil gusto natin siyang humarap, gusto natin siyang sumagot sa mga allegations against her. Kaya po dapat lang talagang magpakita siya sa impeachment trial niya. The past impeachment trial yung kay Chief Justice Renato Corona, nandun po siya," she said.

(Our public shares the same desire because we want her to face the process, we want her to answer the allegations against her. That’s why she really should appear at her impeachment trial. In the past impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, he was there.)

In 2012, the senators sitting as an impeachment court voted 20–3 to convict Corona under article II of the articles of impeachment for culpable violation of the Constitution, due to his failure to declare $2 million and P80 million in deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Vice President Duterte made an appearance at the Senate last July 7, during day two of the trial. However, she was only there to meet her defense team, and not to attend the actual trial.

If ever she does appear in trial, then House Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V has two words for her: "Thank you."

“Thank you ha, nakadalo ka sa trial of the century (Thank you, you were able to attend the trial of the century),” Ortega said.

“Malaking bagay po na nandito kayo kasi matagal na po itong inaabangan at nasa tamang forum na po tayo para masagot ‘yung mga katanungan at saka mga allegations. So thank you po ma’am, salamat," he added.

(It means a lot that you’re here because this has long been awaited, and we are now in the proper forum to address the questions and the allegations. So thank you ma’am, thank you very much.)