00:00A house so long believes the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte can proceed
00:05even if she is included in the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court
00:10or ICC, cover her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs.
00:15The topic remains widely discussed, though there is no confirmation yet on whether the
00:20ICC has issued a warrant or who it will be served to.
00:24BTV's Melanies Moras has the details.
00:28House Prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua believes the impeachment trial of
00:34Vice President Sara Duterte can still proceed if she is among those served an arrest warrant
00:39by the International Criminal Court or ICC in connection with the war on illegal drugs
00:44of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
00:47As of now, this issue is a hot topic, although there is no confirmation yet on whether the
00:52ICC has actually issued a warrant or to whom it will be served.
00:56I believe that the impeachment trial will continue unless, of course, she asks for her presence.
01:02Insofar as the VP is concerned, that is a different topic because she is the subject of this impeachment complaint.
01:15Chua stated that although the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, the country
01:19still has a legal and diplomatic obligation to cooperate if the process is coursed through
01:25the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol.
01:28We are still part of the Interpol.
01:32In fact, when we were looking for Alice Guo abroad, we also asked for help and support
01:40from the Interpol.
01:41That is why it is not good for us to be excluded from this because if we are the ones in need,
01:49they are the ones accommodating us because we are members of this.
01:53Meanwhile, as part of their preparations for the impeachment trial, House Secretary
01:57General Reginald Velasco has formally requested to Senate President Francis Escudero to kindly
02:02allocate a work and holding area in the Senate building for the House Prosecution Panel and
02:08their secretariat for the upcoming trial.
02:10If permitted, the House leadership aims to conduct an ocular inspection there this Tuesday,
02:15March 11.
02:16The next meeting of the House Prosecution Panel is also scheduled for March 11.
02:41As of now, the prosecutors have divided among themselves which articles of impeachment to
02:46focus on.
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