DS Ortega: Defense helped confirm VP Duterte threat evidence

THE defense itself helped confirm evidence supporting Article IV when it acknowledged and used material presented by the prosecution, strengthening the case instead of undermining it during the opening phase of the impeachment trial.

For Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, the prosecution’s decision to reduce its original witness lineup reflected the strength of the evidence already established rather than any weakness in the charge.

“Kailangan surgical, kung baga kailangan mong i-trim iyong mga hindi na kailangan at saka well-established na po iyong mga ebidensya. Actually, tumulong pa nga po iyong defense sa pag-confirm noon,” Ortega stressed.

The La Union lawmaker maintained that the panel reassessed its planned testimony as the proceedings developed, removing witnesses whose accounts would merely duplicate matters already confirmed before the senator-judges.

Article IV accuses Vice President Sara Z. Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes over recorded remarks concerning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

The prosecution presented a technical witness to establish the authenticity, origin and chain of custody of the recordings, followed by an NBI official who testified on their contents and the findings reached during the investigation.

“Dynamic iyong nangyayari sa impeachment. Tingnan ninyo nga, ilang araw pa lang, ang dami nang changes na nangyari,” Ortega explained.

He stressed that trial strategy could not remain fixed when testimony, admissions, and courtroom developments altered what the prosecution still needed to establish through additional witnesses.

“Hindi naman iyan susunod ayon sa gusto ng kung sinumang partido. Dynamic iyan,” he added.

Ortega also noted that the four impeachment articles carry different weight for different sectors, with some viewing the alleged threats as the more serious charge and others focusing on the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

“Very dynamic, sabi ko nga, like ako, para sa akin mas mabigat iyong Article IV, pero karamihan noong mga tao sa gobyerno, mas mabigat sa kanila iyong sa confidential funds,” he explained.

Despite those differences, he maintained that each charge would ultimately stand or fall on the evidence formally presented before the impeachment court.

“Equally may weight nga po lahat itong articles na ito and sigurado po namin na the evidence will be screaming, at saka iyon po talaga ang basehan namin sa lakas ng kasong ito,” Ortega stressed.

“Ang maia-assure ko nga lang, nakahanda itong team para diyan at saka sa anumang changes,” he added.