A DAY after the House prosecution rested its case on the impeachment article accusing Vice President Sara Z. Duterte of making grave threats, House prosecutor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands on Thursday said the charge remained intact despite the defense’s extensive cross-examinations of prosecution witnesses.
Bag-ao said the lengthy questioning did not change what the prosecution had established before the Senate impeachment court.
“Nakita naman natin ang nangyari na nag-end kahapon. Pangatlong testigo na ito, napakarami ng tanungan, pero hindi naman nagiba din ang napatunayan na doon sa article na prinove (prove) ngayon,” Bag-ao said during an online press briefing via Zoom Thursday.
The House prosecution presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Agent John Mark Calilung, Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc and Director Melvin Matibag to support the impeachment article accusing Duterte of threatening President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The prosecution rested its case on the threats article on Wednesday after Matibag completed his testimony.
Bag-ao said the proceedings also underscored the high standard of accountability expected of the country’s highest public officials.
“Kapag mataas ang opisyal natin, siyempre mataas din ang inaasahan nating level ng pananagutan,” Bag-ao said.
“Sa nangyayaring proseso ngayon, lalo na sa pag-establish ng Article IV, ’yung grave threats, naipapakita naman sa mga tanungan na nalilinaw ang accountability—na dapat naiintindihan din ng mga mamamayan ang pananagutan niya bilang opisyal ng lipunan,” she added.
House prosecution counsel and legal spokesperson Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the defense was given every opportunity to conduct a full and searching cross-examination as part of due process.
“We recognize na may karapatan ang depensa na mag-conduct ng full and searching cross-examination. Bahagi ito ng due process,” Tolosa said.
He said the legal effect of cross-examination depends on whether it succeeds in disproving a material fact, official record or institutional finding presented before the impeachment court.
Tolosa said the prosecution’s documentary evidence and official findings remained before the impeachment court despite the extensive questioning.
“Matapos ang mahabang pagtatanong, mga bahagi ng official record ay nanatiling nasa impeachment court para timbangin,” he said.
He said it is now up to the Senate impeachment court to determine whether the defense succeeded in weakening the prosecution’s evidence after hearing the testimonies and cross-examinations.
metrosundaily
