Members of the House prosecution panel on Wednesday described the first three days of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as a “good week” for their side, while stressing that it is too early to determine the outcome of the case.
Speaking at a press conference, House prosecution spokesperson and legal adviser, former Rep. Ace Barbers, said the proceedings remain in their शुरुआial stage and should not be viewed as a decisive victory for either side.
“Umpisa pa lang naman ng ‘boxing’ ika nga, kumbaga sa basketball eh first quarter pa lang ito. Napakahirap pang sabihin kung sino yung nanalo,” Barbers said.
“First quarter pa lang, marami pang timeout ito, ‘yon ang maganda at aabangan natin yan,” he added.
Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora echoed the sentiment, saying the prosecution viewed the opening stretch positively.
“I would say that it was a good week for the prosecution,” Zamora told reporters.
However, lawmakers emphasized that impeachment proceedings should not be judged based on perceived momentum or the number of motions filed.
Rep. Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” Gutierrez said the trial should not be treated like a scoreboard contest, noting that public perception of “points” gained by either camp may be misleading.
“It’s not about the number of motions or counting points as seen by the public,” Gutierrez said. “It’s about the quality of the questions being asked and whether the evidence is properly laid out and clearly understood.”
He added that the ultimate measure of the prosecution’s performance would rest on whether its evidence withstands scrutiny by the senator-judges.
“The question really is whether, at the end of the day, the evidence is left standing,” Gutierrez said.
“As to whether that was achieved this week, we cannot say. That’s on the merits, and it’s up to our senator-judges. We don’t want to say anything that would tend to prejudge the case.”
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, began trial proceedings earlier this week following the filing of charges against Duterte. Further hearings are expected in the coming days as both the prosecution and defense present their arguments and evidence.
