HOUSE trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong questioned the claim of VP Duterte’s camp that the prosecution’s evidence is weak, noting that the defense itself had adopted some of the witnesses listed by the House prosecution panel.
Adiong issued the statement after the first day of closed-door pre-trial proceedings before the Senate impeachment court, where the parties began dealing with proposed stipulations and documentary evidence ahead of the July 6 trial.
“Eh kung mahina ‘yung aming ebidensya e bakit sila mismo ina-adopt nila ‘yung ating mga witnesses no,” Alonto Adiong said in an interview over dzBB
The Senate impeachment court opened the pre-trial conference on June 18, with proceedings intended to organize the trial by identifying facts, witnesses, evidence and issues before the presentation of the case.
Alonto Adiong said the defense had yet to present a direct answer to the evidence the prosecution intends to offer during the impeachment trial.
“In fact, sila mismo wala silang sagot, eksakto na sagot sa mga pinapresenta natin ng ebidensya,” he stressed.
He said the public expected the defense to submit specific counterarguments and evidence that would directly refute the prosecution’s allegations.
“In fact, the reason why we expect, the whole country is expecting na mag-submit sila ng kanilang specific substantial counterargument and contravening evidence and also to answer provide answers atsaka pabulaanan yung mga ebidensya yung pag presenta ng House Prosecution Team,” he added.
The prosecution has repeatedly argued that the defense has focused largely on procedural objections, a point already reflected in public reports on the defense’s pretrial brief.
Alonto Adiong maintained that the defense appeared to be returning to its earlier line of questioning the entire impeachment process rather than directly answering the evidence.
“So sila mismo, makikita natin ang pre-trial brief nila ay basically, going back to their old narrative na questioning the entire process, wala ho silang i-offer,” Alonto Adiong explained.
He said a claim of weak evidence should be met by direct refutation, not merely procedural attacks on the proceedings.
“So if they think that what we will produce to the court is mahina, the more reason for them to counter this with specific and substantial contravening evidence,” he pointed out.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution saw little from the defense beyond technical arguments during the pretrial exchange.
“Pero sa nakita natin wala. Puro sila technical issues nila,” he said.
The lawmaker said the disagreement during pretrial stemmed from the defense’s posture toward the prosecution’s submissions.
“That’s why medyo nagkaroon ng palitan during yesterday’s pre-trial conference,” Alonto Adiong added.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to begin on July 6, with the pretrial process expected to determine the structure and evidentiary parameters of the proceedings.
metrosundaily
