MANILA, Philippines — Lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial said on Thursday that they respect a decision by former law dean Ralph Sarmiento not to appear as a defense witness, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Sarmiento had been invited by the defense to testify, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He declined, saying it was necessary to preserve the independence of his constitutional law scholarship and his impartiality, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer.