House impeachment team focused on evidence, not counting votes —prosecutor

The House prosecution team on Monday said it remains focused on building an “airtight” case against Vice President Sara Duterte instead of speculating on the number of votes needed for a conviction in her impeachment trial.

Lawyer Jay Tolosa—one of the private prosecutors on the House prosecution panel's roster, as well as the team's legal spokesperson—said the prosecution’s strategy has remained unchanged despite discussions surrounding the interpretation of the Senate’s voting threshold.

“The strategy of the prosecution has been consistent from the very start. We don’t engage in vote-counting. At the end of the day, ang priority namin dito is to establish an airtight case.”

(The priority here is to establish an airtight case.)

“So ginagawa natin, kaso natin, this will be backed by solid evidence. Para pagtapos ng paglilitis na ’to, regardless kung ano po yung magiging final interpretation ng two-thirds threshold, makukuha na natin yung conviction," he added.

(Everything we are are doing in this case will be backed by solid evidence so that after this trial, regardless of the final interpretation of the two-thirds threshold, we will secure a conviction.)

Tolosa said presenting evidence remains the prosecution’s top priority throughout the proceedings.

He also acknowledged Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s statement that questions regarding the required number of votes for conviction could eventually be elevated to the Supreme Court.

“But of course we respect the statement ng presiding officer, that this matter could be taken up to the Supreme Court by any interested person,” Tolosa said.

(But of course we respect the statement of the presiding officer that this matter could be taken up to the Supreme Court by any interested person.)

“But so far as the prosecution is concerned, nakatutok po kami dito sa paglilitis na ’to at maglalatag muna namin ng ebidensya," he added.

(But as far as the prosecution is concerned, we are focused on this trial and on presenting our evidence.) — BM, GMA News