Can the President be compelled to appear in the impeachment trial?
The President does not enjoy any privilege from obeying any lawful order of the court in relation to a case or investigation, unless the order pertains to the disclosure of any military secret which may affect the national security (Almonte v. Vasquez, G.R. No. 95367, May 23, 1995). On the other hand, the Senate has the power to summarily punish for contempt any disobedience to its lawful orders (Rule V). Nevertheless, the Senate through its Rules on Impeachment has already waived its power to compel the attendance of the President in the trial when it pronounced that trial shall proceed nevertheless as upon a plea of not guilty upon the failure of the person to be impeached to appear or answer the summons (Rule VII).
