Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Defense, prosecution reminded against issuing 'side remarks'

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday reminded the defense and prosecution to refrain from issuing side remarks in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero issued the reminders as lawyer Mark Vinluan, one of Duterte’s legal counsels, continued his cross-examination to lawyer Jeremy Lotoc, regional director for the National Bureau of Investigation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on the fifth day of the impeachment proceedings.

Vinluan questioned if the NBI issued a subpoena or personally corresponded to First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez as part of their investigation into Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a late-night press conference in November 2024.

“Yet you concluded they were victims…Without any personal correspondences with them, you came out with the conclusion,” Vinluan said.

To which Lotoc answered: The evidence is clear, sir”.

“According to you,” Vinluan said, earning a reaction from the audience.

Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan immediately objected Vinluan’s remarks and moved for the latter to be “admonished for stating those unprofessional remarks.”

“We are infront of national TV. That is his answer. If you are not satisfied with his answer, please do not lay any value to what the witness answered,” Ligutan said.

Escudero, for his part, reminded the parties to avoid issuing side remarks and ordered for Vinluan’s statements be stricken off the record.

“Kindly avoid side remarks. Henceforth, the presiding officer will have it stricken off the records and whatever question you pose and afterwards withdraw, will likewise be stricken off the records as to avoid any attempts of showmanship usually seen on TV, yes, will not be tolerated by this impeachment court,” he added.

Lotoc, the second witness of the House prosecution panel, was tapped to testify on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns the alleged grave threats and assassination plot targeting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

He previously served as chief of the NBI Cybercrime Division, which investigated Duterte's late-night online press conference in November 2024, during which she allegedly disclosed that she had contracted an assassin to kill Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez should she herself be assassinated. — RSJ, GMA News