The start of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday is considered by many as the “first day toward the truth,” House prosecution panel spokesman and adviser Robert Ace Barbers said.
Even the defense team said the trial would allow the truth on the allegations against the Vice President to be revealed, expressing confidence the senator-judges will “give their verdict based on the evidence.”
“Political noise has its limits. July 6 is the first day toward the truth. It is the beginning of the public hearing for truth and accountability. Let the process proceed,” Barbers said.
“We are confident with our own case, with our own defense… We also want to give judges the benefit of the doubt that their sworn oath is to be politically neutral and to give their verdict based on the evidence,” said Duterte’s Defense spokesman Michael Poa.
‘Focus on the impeachment trial’
For his part, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian expressed confidence that both majority and minority senators will participate to fulfill their duties as senator-judges with the start of the impeachment trial on Monday.
The trial will begin with opening statements and procedural rulings under an initial schedule of Mondays through Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. until July 27, before shifting to Tuesdays through Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. after the State of the Nation Address within a capped 92-day evidentiary timeline.
Gatchalian said the proceedings must focus exclusively on the impeachment and not serve as a platform for separate legislative disputes or other political issues.
On the opening day, the impeachment court is expected to immediately address the status of a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue green box containing the tax documents of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.
Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said the “BIR Green Box” should be returned to the House prosecution team since the impeachment court cannot keep something that has yet to be admitted as evidence.
He added that under Sec. 71 of the National Internal Revenue Code, opening the box containing the Vice President’s tax records will need written authority from the President, upon the recommendation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Department of Finance.
VP Sara’s attendance
For his part, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Duterte’s personal appearance at her impeachment trial would make it “much easier” to clarify the issues.
In a press briefing before leaving Canada, Mr. Marcos emphasized the decision ultimately rests with the accused and her legal team.
“It’s really up to the accused whether or not they feel the need to appear. I guess the lawyers on the defense side will give their advice. It’s not for me to say one way or the other,” he said.
“But of course, it would be much easier to get to the bottom of everything if you can speak to the accused directly,” he added.
Mr. Marcos said if he were in a similar situation, he would likely insist on appearing to respond to the accusations, even if advised against it by his legal team.
“I would probably myself, if it was me being accused, I would almost insist over the advice of lawyers, if they advise me not to appear, I would insist on appearing. Because I know I can answer, so let’s answer,” the President said.
Duterte, who earlier threatened there will be a “bloodbath” during her impeachment trial, will “attend, if necessary,” according to Poa.
Ahead of today’s trial, the Vice President posted on social media that she recently visited a church in Bogo City, Cebu last week.
She said she included in her prayers the return of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines and for the safety of all Filipinos, including those working and living abroad.
Witnesses: From Piattos to Xiaomi
The prosecution will present a total of 57 witnesses while 45 will be presented by the defense panel. Between both teams, there will be 17 common witnesses.
Among the witnesses for the defense are former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Ramil Madriaga, who both accused the Vice President of misusing public funds and amassing unexplained wealth.
The defense said the hostile witnesses will “disprove the Articles of Impeachment, show that the allegations are legal conclusions, identify relevant documents, and clarify related issues.”
On the other hand, witnesses for the prosecution include “Mary Grace Piattos,” who was linked to investigations into alleged misuse of confidential funds, whom the Philippine Statistics Authority said is not in their record.
Other witnesses listed include Xiaomi Ocho, Kokoy Villamin, and Milky Secuya.
The Articles of Impeachment allege that Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds during her tenure as Vice President and Education Secretary, amassed billions of pesos in unexplained wealth, bribed Department of Education personnel, and publicly threatened the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The House impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers endorsed the verified complaint accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.