Election lawyer Atty. Romy Macalintal on Wednesday advised the House prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to focus on the strength of their own evidence rather than on perceived weaknesses in the defense.

In an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, Macalintal criticized what he described as overly public commentary from the prosecution, saying legal arguments should be confined to the courtroom and not aired in the media.

“Nagtataka naman ako sa prosecution, masyado silang talkative. Lagi silang nagsasali, nagsasalita tungkol sa kanilang posisyon. Kaya sa aking palagay, kung ikaw ay abogado, huwag kang masyado madaldal. [Huwag] kang makikiano sa kabilakung ano iyong gustong sabihin,” Macalintal said.

“Hindi mo pwedeng pakialaman kung ano ang gustong gawin nung nasa kabilang panig.”

He also cautioned against making public remarks that could be seen as disparaging the defense’s case.

“Hindi tama ‘yun sa isang… with all due respect sa kanila. Para sa akin, parang hindi maganda sa isang abogado na sasabihin mo na bale-wala ang ebidensya nila. Sabihin mo ‘yan sa korte, pero huwag sa media, dahil nakakahiya sa kapwa mo abogado; napupulaan mo ang kanilang ginawang depensa sa media,” he said, noting that such comments could be disrespectful to fellow lawyers.

“‘Yung mga ganyang bagay, dapat na sa korte natin napag-usapan,” he added.

Macalintal emphasized that prosecution teams should not build their case on perceived weaknesses in the defense presentation.

“Dapat tandaan din ng prosecution na yung kasong 'yan, the prosecution should not rely on the weakness of the defense evidence. The prosecution [should] rely on the strength of its own evidence,” he said.

“Kailangan sila ay mananalig sa lakas ng kanilang ebidensya at hindi doon sa hina ng ebidensya ng kanilang kalaban,” Macalintal added.

Earlier, lead prosecutor and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro said that the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial plans to present more than 30 witnesses as they prepare to file their pre-trial brief before the Senate.