VICE President Sara Z. Duterte’s defense has relied on a three-part strategy of creating drama, derailing the proceedings and delaying the trial after failing to present a direct counter-narrative to the evidence under Article IV.
House trial spokesperson and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co said the defense had been given several opportunities to present an explanation contradicting the prosecution’s evidence.
“Ito po kasi ‘yung strategy ng defense at this point. Naka ilang opportunity na para ibigay yung counter-narrative ni VP Sara, mukhang wala,” Co said.
The prosecution completed its presentation under Article IV after calling National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials to authenticate the videos and discuss the government’s examination of Duterte’s statements.
“So ito yung na-identify na nating 3D na strategy nila: drama, derail and delay,” Co stressed.
She said repeated objections and questions on issues already addressed by witnesses consumed valuable trial time without disproving the recorded statements.
“And nangyayari yung kung paulit ulit ‘yung ‘pag raise ng objections kahit walang basis o kaya naman paulit ulit ‘yung tanong, paikot-ikot na kahit asked and answered na,” Co explained.
The defense focused extensively on dates, documentary entries and the handling of records used by NBI witnesses during the investigation.
“Successful yung paglatag ng ebidensya para masabi natin na nailatag na ‘yung argument sa Article 4,” Co said.
She emphasized that Duterte’s appearance in the videos and the words attributed to her were not categorically denied during the prosecution’s presentation.
“Simple lang kasi naman ‘yun eh, nandyan ‘yung video na sabi n’yo nga po, walang denial of its existence, walang denial of the words use,” Co noted.
The defense may present its explanation of the videos when the Senate Impeachment Court proceeds with Duterte’s evidence on Article IV.
“At best may explanation ng context pero kung i-appreciate din natin, hindi po sufficient ‘yung context para sabihin, okay sabihin ‘yung mga bantang ginawa,” Co added.
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