Vice President Sara Duterte does not attend the opening day of her Senate impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, according to her legal team. Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa says Duterte is exercising her right under the impeachment rules to appear through counsel rather than in person. In a press briefing, Poa points to Duterte’s earlier statement, where she says that choosing to appear only through counsel does not reduce her accountability or indicate a lack of transparency. Multiple outlets report that Duterte’s absence applies to the formal opening session, with her legal representatives appearing in her place. Rappler also notes that Duterte has previously not attended hearings conducted by the House justice panel related to the impeachment complaints against her. Coverage from Inquirer.net and GMA News Online similarly frames the decision as Duterte’s choice to avoid personal attendance while still participating through her defense. The reporting focuses on the defense’s explanation for her absence from the first day and the procedural basis for her attendance through counsel.