The House prosecution panel on Tuesday observed that Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers’ tactic appears to be shooting down the former’s evidence.

Prosecution member and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon noted that the defense team issued frequent objections, at times “impertinent” ones. However, he relented that they were simply doing their job, and that challenging evidence before they can be appreciated by the court is one way to protect their client.

“Siguro naman kung bahagi ako ng defense panel, baka ‘yun rin pong kailangan kong gawin para tiyakin na hindi ho makapasok ‘yung mga ebidensyang ito, para maprotektahan ko ‘yung kliente ko. That is their strategy and we will respect that,” Ridon said.

The lawmaker said they are free to employ whatever trial strategy they deem best, although they will have to contend with being overruled, upon the court’s discretion.

Moreover, the prosecution, Ridon shared, entered the trial expecting the defense to object at every possible turn, but did not anticipate that they would venture to move for the exclusion of certain witnesses.

Prosecution Spokesperson and Lanao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong echoed Ridon’s observation.

“Nakita din natin kung anong strategy ng defense, is actually to mute the evidence or to do anything that they can, technically, not to allow the court to appreciate the evidence,” he said, adding that the prosecution was grateful Presiding Officer Francis Escudero saw through the defense’s strategy.

Prosecution Spokesperson Paolo Ortega disclosed that the defense team had been “coached” to object whenever possible.

“‘Yung preparations will always beat the objections,” he said, however.

The prosecution said they were happy with the second day of the trial and “claiming victory” for having presented their evidence.

“We’re claiming victory in a sense that we have already started to present our case, present our evidence for the people and for the court to see and appreciate. And we’re very happy na ‘yung na-introduce kanina na mga ebidensya, although they were challenged by the defense… and probably later on, this will be introduced as an evidence,” Adiong said.

Among the evidence presented before the court is the notorious, expletive-laden video of Vice President Duterte threatening to have the President assassinated should she be killed.