The House prosecution on Monday said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has entered a new phase, with prosecutors now seeking to establish whether she remains fit to continue serving as the country’s second-highest official after laying the foundation for their key evidence.
“Ngayong linggong ito (This week), we will have to move forward by establishing whether the Vice President is fit to be in the office or not,” former Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, House prosecution spokesperson and adviser said during a press briefing.
The prosecution made the statement ahead of the resumption of the impeachment trial, where it is set to present National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc as its second witness under the fourth Article of Impeachment.
The article accuses Duterte of making grave threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez over her Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference, during which she said she had contracted someone to kill them if she herself were killed.
Barbers said impeachment proceedings differ from criminal prosecutions because they are intended to determine whether a public official should remain in office rather than impose criminal penalties.
“This process, this impeachment process, walang kulong, kundi ‘yung pagtatanggal lamang sa opisina. Kasi ang malaking tanong: ikaw ba ay karapat-dapat na manilbihan o manungkulan bilang pangalawang Pangulo after nakita natin itong mga ebidensyang inilatag na ito (there’s no imprisonment, but rather the removal from office. Because the big question is: are you worthy to serve as the Vice President after seeing the evidence presented against you)?” he said.
Lotoc is expected to testify on the NBI’s investigation into Duterte’s remarks and the circumstances surrounding the filing of criminal complaints arising from the incident as the prosecution continues presenting evidence before the Senate impeachment court.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the prosecution would maintain the same approach as the trial progresses, relying on the strength of its evidence rather than outside noise.
“Ang spoiler lang kasi na pwede kong ibigay, eh magiging consistent lagi ang prosecution panel (the only spoiler that I can give is that the prosecution panel will always be consistent),” Ortega said.
“Sigurado ’yan na nakahanda at mas maingay ang ebidensya sa kahit anong ingay sa palibot ng impeachment (The evidence is ready and noisier than any other noise surrounding the impeachment, that’s for sure),” he said, stressing that consistency would continue to define the prosecution’s presentation throughout the proceedings. (PNA)