WHILE waiting for the pre-trial proceedings of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment to commence, House trial spokesperson and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co said over the weekend the prosecution panel is securing its evidence and witnesses.
Co, a lawyer, explained that aside from conducting mock trials, the 11-member panel is pre-marking evidence to establish during the pre-trial proceedings.
This includes laying down all pieces of evidence that will be used to prove the charges against the vice president, as well as those that may crop up during the trial.
“Magkakaroon po ng marking of evidence in the sense na kung ano man ‘yung hawak na ebidensya ng prosecution at defense, inalatag ‘yan, enumerate nila,” she said in an interview with dzMM Saturday.
“May pre-marking ang tawag nila doon na gagawin ang maaari silang mag-reserve ng right to present additional evidence kung lumabas,” she added.
Co noted that during the proper pre-trial proper, the prosecution panel and vice president’s defense team will be establishing the common facts of the case tied to the allegations cited in the articles of impeachment.
“May bahagi na pwede silang mag-agree sa common facts na panghawakan ng prosecution at defense. May common facts na ang gawain nila ay ipo-prove nila sa trial proper para ma-establish ‘yung conclusion of law na gusto nilang ipakita,” she said, adding that there are instances when two parties clash on what actually happened.
This, the trial spokesperson explained, is further compounded by the non-answer of the vice president when she filed her response to the impeachment complaints filed against her.
Concerning the witnesses to be presented, Co said the prosecution panel is also considering inviting hostile witnesses. These are individuals who display a strong opposition against one side and may potentially have interests adverse to that of the lawyers who called them.
“Tinitignan natin na maaari natin i-call to the stand siya. So naghahanda din tayo ano ‘yung mga kalakip na gawain para ma-call sila, mapanawagan na ito ‘yung mga tanong na dapat sagutin, paano mag-impeach ng isang hostile witnesses if necessary,” she said.
Since hostile witnesses could serve as a double-edged sword, Co said, the prosecution panel is still weighing the pros and cons before finalizing its list of witnesses to present during trial.
What is certain, however, is that the witnesses to be invited should maintain the narrative they have testified in congressional hearings or in sworn affidavits, she added.
While the Senate leadership remains unpredictable, with another ouster anticipated, Co said the impeachment trial’s schedule should not be affected. Nonetheless, the Filipino people should remain vigilant, as the trial should be conducted forthwith.
“Ang Senado hindi dapat makaapekto sa proseso ng pananagutan. Kahit sino naman nandyan, dapat makita natin na magtuloy-tuloy ‘yung paglilitis at proseso. Pero sa bahagi ng mamamayan, nakikita natin natural na may agam-agam,” she said.
The Senate impeachment court convened on May 18 and is planning to start pre-trial proceedings on July 6, roughly a month after Duterte is expected to file her answer to the articles of impeachment.
