A progressive alliance challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to appear before the Senate impeachment trial on Monday, July 6.

According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary General Mong Palatino, Duterte has been very outspoken on social media but cannot seem to face the people who are looking for answers to allegations against her, reported RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort.

“Sana harapin ni Sara Duterte, hindi lang ang mga senator-judges, kundi ‘yung taumbayan na nagsampa ng kaso, ang mga impeachment complainants, ang mga mamamayan na naghihintay ng kasagutan. Napakatapang niya sa harap ng social media, kapag kausap lang ‘yung mga supporters niya, harapin niya ang kaso,” he told Ricafort.

Palatino said the vice president should personally face the court and defend herself if she is truly innocent, noting that the Filipino people’s anger is rooted in her alleged abuse of power, specifically how she has supposedly used it to cover up wrongdoing.

“Kung sa tingin niya wala siyang nagawang krimen, ipagtanggol niya ang sarili niya dito, at hindi ‘yung ang tapang-tapang niya kapag sa social media siya nagsasalita,” he urged.

“Ang mensahe natin sa kanya, ‘yung panawagan ng pananagutan, ay hindi lamang dahil ‘yung mga usapin ng impeachment, ‘yung abuso sa kapangyarihan, ‘yung paggamit ng pwesto para pagtakpan ang kasalanan—’yan ang ikinagagalit ng taumbayan,” he added.

The secretary-general also condemned how the impeachment court wasted an hour discussing the technical aspects of the proceedings, which should have been established during the pre-trial.

He questioned whether this was a tactic on Duterte’s side to further delay the trial proper and evade accountability.

As of writing, the impeachment court has adjourned for the day. Proceedings will resume on Tuesday, at 2:00 p.m.