Prosecution: Impeachment court should scold Sara Duterte for criticizing trial

The Senate impeachment court should reprimand Vice President Sara Duterte for her comments about the conduct of her impeachment trial, the House prosecution panel said Thursday.

In a press briefing, House prosecution spokesperson Representative Renee Co of Kabataan party-list said the defense's comments on misleading questions exposed their entire strategy.

"Sa bibig nahuhuli ang isda. Sa depensa na mismo nanggaling. Dapat daw ang mga tanong na misleading. This clearly shows their strategy for the entire process of the impeachment trial," Co said.

(The fish is caught by the mouth. It came from the defense itself. The questions should be misleading. This clearly shows their strategy for the entire process of the impeachment trial.)

Co said it was Duterte herself who was undermining the constitutional process by insinuating that the impeachment trial was bending the law.

"Ultimately, kung may dapat sitahin and impeachment court, si VP Sara 'yun. Siya mismo ang bumabaluktot ng batas, lalo na sa kanyang questionable na paggasta ng confidential at intelligence funds na hanggang ngayon, walang sagot sa taumbayan," Co said.

(Ultimately, if the impeachment court should reprimand someone, it is VP Sara. She is the one who said the law is being bent, especially with her questionable spending of confidential and intelligence funds that until now, the people have no answers.)

Co maintained that the prosecution hoped for the impeachment court to remain fair and evenhanded.

GMA News Online has requested comment from Duterte's defense panel regarding Co's statements, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

Day 15 of Duterte's impeachment trial grew tense after private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan and defense counsel Kristine Ferrer faced off. During the heated exchange, Kapunan said misleading questions are not allowed during cross-examination.

To which Ferrer responded: "they are allowed."

After this exchange, private prosecutor Armando Ligutan posted on social media that "a principle all lawyers and law students know by heart: Misleading questions are not allowed even on cross-examination."

However, Duterte's lead defense counsel Sheila Sison cried foul over Ligutan's post, claiming that it violated rules of decorum.

House prosecutor Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list maintained that the sub judice rule prohibited parties from making public statements that may influence the case. Diokno maintained that Ligutan did not break any of the rules.

"Both sides should have that opportunity to speak about the case basta within the limits imposed within the law," Diokno said.

Asked if the prosecution will raise Duterte's public comments to the impeachment court, Diokno was mum.

While Sison has maintained that the counsels should be polite and kind with each other, he said the rules of court decorum do not require kindness, but respect.

"We will always be ready to call out anyone who is not following proper court decorum," Diokno said. — VDV, GMA News