THE House prosecution says it is up to the Senate to decide on the voting threshold to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in the impeachment trial but they remain confident their evidence is strong enough to secure the ruling they are after.
House prosecution adviser and spokesperson, former Surigao de Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said the focus of the prosecution remains on presenting a strong case on the four Articles of Impeachment, which he said they have been able to do so far.
“Confident naman kasi ang ating prosecution panel sa kasong kanilang itinatulak. Doon sa mga allegations on the four different Articles of impeachment ay malinaw na pinapakita dito sa pamamagitan ng pagpresenta ng mga ebidensya na sumusuporta doon sa ating mga allegations,” Barbers said.
In the presentation of witnesses and evidence on Articles IV and I, Barbers believes the prosecution has made a compelling case against the Vice President.
“It is now up to the impeachment Senator-Judges to decide and weigh kung ano yung magiging desisyon o boto nila dito. Of course, we’ve been confident that the case that we are presenting before this court in this impeachment trial will definitely get a positive response from our Senator-Judges,” he added.
Based on the opinions given by retired Chief Justices Reynato Puno, Artemio Panganiban and Hilario Davide Jr., and associate justice Adolfo Azcuna, Barbers said it was clear that the Senate has the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases, including promulgating the rules for the proceedings.
“So ibig sabihin lamang, ang ating impeachment court will decide, kung ano yung kanilang panuntunan, ano yung kanilang mga rules tungkol dito sa paglilitis. Lalong-lalo na, rules kung papaano sila magdidisisyon. So yan, malinaw na ipinahayag yan ng ating mga mahistrado,” Barbers said.
While reiterating the stand of the prosecution that it will leave the matter of the voting threshold up to the sound discretion of the Senate Impeachment Court, the possibility of taking a position on the matter is still on the table once the oral arguments begin next week.
House prosecutor 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez said the opinions raised by the four retired Supreme Court Justices on the question of the voting threshold were very insightful and gave the panel food for thought on its position regarding the matter.
“I think what we’re coming from is that there was a lot of eye-opening that occurred this afternoon,” Gutierrez said.
He said the members of the prosecution panel will be discussing its position in the coming days in preparation for the oral arguments next week.
“But I just wanted to say that hindi naman mutually exclusive that there will be a position that’s favorable to the prosecution, but at the same time, deferring to the sound judgment and wisdom of the impeachment court,” Gutierrez said.
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