Prosecutors: First week of VP Sara trial showed strong start, witness testimony stood firm

HOUSE impeachment prosecutors and spokespersons said Thursday the first week of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial showed the prosecution’s first witness standing firm under questioning, while the panel prepared to present more witnesses on Article IV, which involves alleged grave threats.

At a press conference at the House Media Center, San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, and trial spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. gave updates after the third trial day.

Zamora, a House prosecutor, thanked those who followed the proceedings and said the public saw both prosecution and defense operate before the impeachment court.

“Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng sumubaybay, lahat po ng nanood at nakinig sa ating first week of the impeachment trial,” Zamora said.

“Nakita nyo po ang dalawang panig, ang mga abogado representing the prosecution and representing the defense, at nakita nyo po kung paano po tayo gumalaw sa isang impeachment court,” she added.

Zamora said the prosecution’s first witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, did not waver.

“Nakita nyo din po ang ating unang witness at ang kanyang testimonya at nakita ninyo na hindi natinag o nabasag ang testimonya ng ating witness na si John Mark Calilung,” Zamora said.

She stressed that the trial has only started and the prosecution has not completed its presentation on the grave threats article.

“Umpisa pa lang po ito,” Zamora said.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang pagpresenta ng mga witness patungkol sa Article IV o yung grave threats article,” she added.

Zamora said the prosecution will next present another NBI official.

“In the coming weeks, meron pa po tayong ibang witnesses, ang susunod naman po ay na-announce na at yun din po ay isa pang NBI official, yun po si Attorney Lotoc, which we will present on Monday,” she said.

She urged the public to continue following the trial.

“Sana po, subaybayan po ng ating public ang trial ng ating Vice President at marami pa po tayong mapupulot na kaalaman dito,” Zamora said.

Tolosa was also asked about the reported visit of Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez to the Senate earlier in the day, which was described as concerning administrative matters. He said the prosecution was not privy to the meeting.

“We’re not privy to that meeting, what was discussed,” Tolosa said.

He said the matter has no effect on the prosecution’s witness plans.

“Quite frankly, it has no significance to us so far as we’re concerned,” Tolosa said.

Tolosa said the prosecution had already asked the impeachment court to subpoena Lopez as one of its witnesses.

“We’ve already asked the impeachment court to issue a subpoena directing Atty. Zuleika Lopez to appear before the court as one of our witnesses,” Tolosa said.

“Our purpose for presenting her as a witness, what we intend to do during her presentation as witness, would not be affected by that occurrence this morning,” he added.

Gutierrez said the prosecution could not speculate on a meeting whose details were unknown, but said the trial should continue unaffected.

“Without knowing exactly what the meeting was about, we can’t really comment on it,” Gutierrez said.

“We trust that the trial will be proceeding and the prosecution will be unaffected,” he added.

On the voting threshold, Tolosa said the prosecution is not making it its immediate focus.

“Our singular focus remains the same, which is to keep preparing for the presentation of our succeeding witnesses,” Tolosa said.

Zamora said the prosecution’s present task is to present evidence on the Articles of Impeachment and follow the rulings of the court.

“The prosecution is not concerned about the voting threshold dahil ang business naman po ngayon ay i-present ang ebidensya na hawak po namin in relation to the four Articles of Impeachment,” Zamora said.

Gutierrez said the trial must contonue to move forward.

“The rules are now set and it’s time for the evidence and the records to move now,” Gutierrez said.