HOUSE impeachment prosecutors said Tuesday they are claiming victory after Day 2 of the Senate impeachment trial, citing the continued presentation of evidence and the overruling of several defense objections.
Speaking after the Day 2 hearing adjourned, trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution sees the day as a win because the trial continued and evidence was shown to the public.
“It’s very clear now that we’re, sabi ko ngayon hindi pa tapos itong araw na ito, but we’re claiming victory because all the motions that were raised by the defense, most of them were overruled,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the proceedings strengthened the prosecution’s call to let the evidence be seen.
“Ultimately, nakita natin ng taumbayan ngayon na habang tumutuloy itong impeachment trial, very clear na talagang lumalabas at lumalakas ‘yung panawagan ng prosecution na ipakita sa taumbayan yung katotohanan,” he said.
Public prosecutor Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list said the prosecution’s standard for success is not a tally of objections, but whether evidence is presented.
“Wala kaming tally sheet kung sino ‘yung na-reject yung objection, sino ‘yung na-sustain ‘yung objection, sino ‘yung na-utal,” Ridon said. “Kasi ang mahalaga naman po rito, ‘yung pagpapalabas mismo ng ebidensya either ng prosecution or nung depensa,” he added.
Ridon said the key litigation metric is whether evidence is admitted and witness examination proceeds.
“Ang most important metric in litigation, yun po nga naipasok yung mga ebidensya, naisalang yung ebidensya na hindi na-objection, na hindi po natitigil,” Ridon said.
“So malaking tagumpay po ngayon,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution had already begun showing the public the evidence behind the impeachment case.
“We have already shown to the public what evidence we have,” Alonto Adiong said.
“So in that sense, sabi ko nga we are claiming victory kasi mananalo dito ang taumbayan,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said the victory belongs to the public because the impeachment trial is meant to answer the people’s demand for accountability.
“Para naman talaga sa kanila ang impeachment na ito at para malaman nila kung ano yung kaso na ipepresenta ng prosecution,” Alonto Adiong said.
The prosecution said Day 2 confirmed that the trial has shifted from preliminaries to evidence, with the public now able to see how the case will be tested before the Senate impeachment court.
