Impeachment prosecutors evaluating not just bribery article but witnesses list —Luistro

The House prosecution team is discussing ways to expedite proceedings at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including possibly dropping the Article on alleged bribery in the Department of Education, and evaluating the list of succeeding witnesses.

“The many discussions that the impeachment team is holding, as a matter of fact, hindi lang yung [is not just the] concern about whether to present or not the article on bribery. Even the list of witnesses in the remaining articles are being re-evaluated,” lead prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas told reporters in an ambush interview on Thursday.

She added that they have not reached a final decision.

“So, concerning that article on bribery, I can only confirm that's part of our discussions. But no official stand yet kung ida-drop ba o hindi [whether to drop it or not],” she said.

Asked what factors the prosecution team will consider in arriving at a decision, Luistro replied, “Well, tinitingnan din natin yung nauna nating nai-present, kung satisfied ba tayo, na-establish ba yung mga facts which we want to be established. Ganundin yung importance noong articles.”

(We will look at what we have already presented, if we are satisfied, if we have established the facts which we want to be established. And the importance of the articles.)

Luistro emphasized that all four Articles of Impeachment are “equally strong.”

“So lahat sila ay malakas, lahat sila ay strong, but we have this confidential fund already na pertaining to both the OVP [Office of the Vice President] and the DepEd. Siguro we focus on something else,” she stated.

Luistro also said they are considering the timeline.

“We do not want to drag this impeachment trial too much because we understand that somehow, naapektuhan yung buhay ng mga Pilipino [it is affecting Filipinos' lives] and even the focus of the parties concerned. As for one, the prosecutors, the senator-judges, and even the defense,” she said.

“Narinig natin yung manifestation ni presiding officer na talagang medyo challenge na sila [We heard the presiding officer when he waid they are challenged] considering that three important functions are being addressed by the Senate at the same time: yung kanilang regular legislation, yung budget hearing for next year of course, and itong impeachment trial. So, kino-consider din natin yun [we are considering that] as part of the government. We do not want to spend too much time on this impeachment trial,” she added.

One way to expedite the proceedings, Luistro said, was for the defense to accept the prosecution’s stipulations.

“Pinipilit natin mag-offer lagi ng stipulation to shorten the presentation of witnesses for the prosecution. Yun nga lang, minsan ay they refuse to agree even to common exhibits. Kaya natatagalan,” she explained.

(We are always offering stipulations to shorten the presentation of witnesses for the prosecution. Only they sometimes refuse to agree even to common exhibits. That's why it's taking longer.) — BM, GMA News