The House prosecution panel announced Saturday its intention to oppose potential delays in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte as the defense prepares to open its case.
Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr., legal spokesperson and private prosecutor for the House panel, stated at a Quezon City news forum that the prosecution will object to any procedural extensions when defense presentations begin on Monday, Nov. 9.
Tolosa indicated that the prosecution will seek to limit the scope of the defense’s presentation following the panel’s decision in October to withdraw three of the four original impeachment articles.
The dropped charges concerned confidential funds, grave threats, and bribery, leaving Article II—which alleges unexplained wealth—as the sole basis of the trial.
“Dahil napakaliwanag naman, kung magpe-presenta pa sila ng ebidensya para doon, it will not serve any legitimate purpose,” Tolosa said.
“So kung magpe-presenta pa sila ng ebidensya paukol doon sa articles that were already dropped, malinaw ang magiging effect lang niyan is to cause delay in this case.”
The defense has submitted an initial list of 24 prospective witnesses and indicated plans to call more. Because the trial has been narrowed to a single charge, Tolosa argued that the defense should no longer require the 30 trial days originally allotted for all four articles.
“So kami ho, inaasahan namin reasonable na kung binigyan sila ng 30 days to present evidence for four articles, reasonable that this should be accordingly decreased now, considering isa na lang,” Tolosa said.
The prosecution plans to request a reduction in the defense’s allotted time during Monday’s session or through a formal written submission.
To expedite the proceedings, Tolosa added that the prosecution is willing to stipulate on undisputed facts.
This measure would bypass testimonies from bank representatives called exclusively to identify correspondence involving Duterte or her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
The development follows a Thursday ruling by the Senate impeachment court admitting key financial records and the majority of a forensic accounting report submitted by the prosecution. The court excluded certain corporate records and related calculations from the final evidence pool.
The House prosecution rested its case after presenting documentation alleging at least P817.87 million in undeclared assets and unexplained wealth from 2022 to 2025.
VP Sara has denied the allegations, and her legal counsel has maintained that the prosecution’s evidence fails to prove wrongdoing.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to determine the exact schedule and parameters of the defense’s arguments on Monday, with sessions currently slated through Nov. 23.# (ZIA LUNA)
