Manila, Sept. 8 -- The Senate impeachment court may hold oral arguments before deciding whether Vice President Sara Duterte can be compelled to testify in her own impeachment trial should House prosecutors formally seek a subpoena, court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Tongol said the prosecution maintains that Duterte may be subpoenaed, while her defense argues that compelling the respondent to take the witness stand would violate her constitutional right against self-incrimination.

"Ang position naman ng kabila, nila Atty. Michael Poa, the respondent's counsel, ay absolute right against self-incrimination... at hindi pwedeng ipatawag by any court ang isang akusado or respondent in an impeachment court (...