MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Sunday asked the Senate Impeachment Court to allow them to fully present their evidence during the proceedings, saying the public must understand the basis of the charges against the vice president before the trial begins on July 6.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution panel, said the prosecution seeks enough opportunity to present its evidence before the impeachment court.
“What we are asking from the impeachment court is simply to be given the chance to properly lay out our evidence,” Chua said in an interview with dzBB radio.
He said the impeachment trial carries national significance because it concerns public accountability.
“What we must look at here is how important this impeachment trial is for the country, because what is at stake is accountability,” Chua said. “That is why the truth must prevail.”
The Senate will convene as an impeachment court on July 6 to hear the case against Duterte.
The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of misusing hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, and directing Department of Education officials to bypass government procurement rules.
Chua said the prosecution has completed its preparations and will present its evidence to support the charges.
“We have long been preparing, and to the best of our ability, we will do everything [to present the evidence],” he said.
Chua said the prosecution may reduce the number of witnesses or skip some articles of impeachment if it determines that the evidence already presented sufficiently supports a conviction.
The prosecution plans to begin its presentation with the allegation that Duterte threatened President Marcos, followed by evidence related to the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and unexplained wealth.
“If, for example, in our initial presentation we see that the case is already very strong, we may just add one or two more witnesses and then conclude,” Chua said.
He added that the prosecution may stop presenting additional impeachment articles if it believes the evidence introduced under the earlier articles already establishes its case.
“For example, if we think the case is sufficient up to Article III, or even just Article II, we can waive the others,” Chua said.
According to the prosecution, its evidence includes a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, a video recording of her alleged threat against President Marcos, and documents that prosecutors claim show efforts to bypass procurement procedures.
