The impeachment court has received the manifestation of the House prosecution panel agreeing to an article-by-article presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Tongol said the prosecution panel agreed that the presentation of evidence should alternate between the prosecution and the defense for each article of impeachment, instead of allowing the prosecution to finish presenting all articles before the defense begins its side.
“They are agreeing to the presentation of the alternating presentation of the prosecution and the defense on an article-per-article basis. Hindi po yung mauuna yung defense, tapusin na lahat ng mga artikulo na nakasampa, tapos doon pa lang yung defense magpepresenta,” Tongol said.
Under the proposed sequence, the prosecution will first present evidence for an article, followed by the defense’s presentation for the same article before the court proceeds to the next charge.
Tongol, however, clarified that the impeachment court has yet to receive a formal manifestation from Vice President Duterte’s defense team regarding the proposed arrangement.
“As to the defense po, yung respondent, wala pa po tayong nare-receive na any formal manifestation regarding that matter,” he said.
The court spokesperson added that the presiding officer may issue an order on the matter once the defense agrees to the arrangement. If approved, the schedule for the next hearings may be adjusted, including the possible cancellation of the planned presentation of Article 1 and the continuation of the defense’s presentation on Article 4 on the following hearing date.
“Hopefully kung mag-agree din yung respondent, then we will expect an order from the presiding officer first, either tomorrow or today, to grant the said agreement,” Tongol said.
