Prosecution hoping for liberality in VP Sara's 'bending the law' comments vs impeachment court

The House prosecution team on Wednesday said it is hopeful that the Senate impeachment court will continue to apply liberality when it comes to parties making comments about the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House prosecution team trial spokesperson and Atty. Benjamin Tolosa, Jr. made the response after Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero warned that the court will not tolerate violations of the sub judice rule or discussing the merits of the case while the trial is still ongoing, saying that one side “has been crossing the line many, many times.”

“This time in July, July 14 if I'm not mistaken, the Vice President issued an official statement accusing the prosecution of resorting to fabricated evidence and fabricated narratives. And quite recently [five days ago], as you know, she made remarks, this time not just against the prosecution but against the impeachment proceedings itself, the impeachment court and ultimately the presiding officer, and she said the proceedings is marred by bending the law,” Tolosa said in a press conference.

“But when the spokesperson of the impeachment court was asked if these [statements by the Vice President] violated the sub judice rule, he answered that the presiding officer has been exercising liberality with respect to the application of the sub judice rule. We are sure that this liberality will be applied fairly, not just with respect to the Vice President herself but to all of the persons covered by the sub judice rule,” Tolosa added, referring to Senate court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol.

Tolosa, however, said that the prosecution panel will take accountability in the event that the court finds them in violation of the sub judice rule.

“But if there have been some transgressions [on our part], we'll be humble enough to take accountability for that,” Tolosa said.

“But just the same, we hope that the same liberality will be applied to all of us,” Tolosa added.

'Very difficult'

Defense team spokesperson Michael Poa, for his part, said it is really difficult to observe the sub judice rule and explain their arguments to the public in a way that is easily understandable.

“It is very difficult. I was just in an interview this morning also on one of the radio shows, and it was very difficult for me to answer questions because I'd like, as much as possible, I'd like to give you something to report on, but I'm tied with Rule 18 of Resolution 39 [on sub judice],” Poa said in a separate press conference.

Poa then shared that he and Tolosa talked about this challenge.

“I want to share, and I hope Atty. Tolosa doesn't mind. It's really hard for us when we face the media because there's always that very thin line between saying something that's within the bounds that we're allowed to say and the sub-judice," said Poa.

"We're trying our best, I think both sides, to stay within the bounds of the rules,” he added. —VAL, GMA News