By Politiko staff
The House prosecution panel urged Vice President Sara Duterte to direct her own legal team to cooperate if she is genuinely intent on expediting her impeachment trial.
Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., legal spokesperson for the prosecution team, made the statement in response to Duterte’s recent remark calling for a faster trial, where she noted that prolonged proceedings only heighten public suspicion of wrongdoing on her part.
“Kung pareho kami ng kagustuhan pala, maganda din na iparating ito sa kanyang defense team dahil maalala natin madaming circumstances na nag-cause ng delay sa paglilitis dahil sa actions or inactions ng defense team,” Tolosa said.
Tolosa cited the defense team’s failure to act on an impeachment court directive requiring both panels to meet and compare evidence prior to the testimony of Commission on Audit (COA) Auditor Xylene Mae del Campo.
Prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized that the House panel has consistently pushed for swift proceedings, noting that prosecutors even dropped several witnesses under Article 4, which covers alleged grave threats, to prevent redundant testimony.
“This is evidence na ang gusto talaga ng House Prosecution panel pabilisan din because we also do not want repetitive testimonies coming from various witnesses because it would only waste the time of the court,” Adiong stated.
The impeachment trial, which formally opened on June 6, 2026, has already spanned 16 trial sessions, prompting fears that the sluggish pace could drag the proceedings through the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Adiong backed calls from Akbayan challenging Duterte to personally appear before the impeachment court if she truly wishes to clear her name and conclude the trial quickly.
Adiong stressed that public demand for Duterte’s direct testimony is growing, particularly after witness Gina Acosta testified that the Vice President personally instructed the transfer of confidential funds.
“Matagal na po namin sinasabi na dapat humarap siya. Lalo na po ngayon na napresenta natin si Miss Gina Acosta na ang sinasabi po niya, klaro sa kanyang pahayag na ang vice president ang nag-utos sa kanya upang itransfer….Ito po ang kanyang word na ginamit, itransfer yung 125 million sa kai Col. (Raymund Dante) Lachica,” Adiong said.
“So kaya mas tumataas ngayon yung panawagan ng taongbayan dahil si Miss Gina Acosta hindi niya masusupply ang katanungan ng ating taongbayan, bakit yun ang naging decision ng vice presidente?” the lawmaker added.—Politiko.com.ph
