Marcos: I Would Insist On Attending Impeach Trial

VANCOUVER — If subjected to an impeachment trial, President Marcos said he “would insist on appearing” in the courtroom.

This was the Chief Executive’s response when asked during a press conference here whether he thinks an accused should attend an impeachment trial, having served as one of the senator-judges during the impeachment trial of the late former chief justice Renato Corona in 2012.

Marcos at first said it is really up to the accused whether or not they feel the need to appear.

“But if I’m just trying to put myself in that position, I would probably… myself, if it was me being accused, I would almost insist over the advice of lawyers, if they advise me not to appear, I would insist on appearing. Since I can answer it, let’s go ahead and answer it,” the President said on Sunday, July 5 (Philippine time).

Marcos’ remark came a day before the start of the impeachment trial of his former ally Vice President Sara Duterte.

 The Senate impeachment court has ordered Duterte to appear before it on July 6, when her trial opens at 2 p.m. whether in person or through her lawyers.

Having the accused in the courtroom would make the process easier and more transparent, the Chief Executive said.

“It would be much easier to get to the bottom of everything if you can speak to the accused directly,” he said.

 “And the accused can answer directly, not through secondary channels, not through the lawyers,” Marcos noted.

“But that’s just my own opinion and that’s not a legal opinion because I’m not a lawyer,” he said.