House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said defense maneuvers have contributed to delays in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial, emphasizing that efforts to speed up proceedings must apply to both sides.
“Meron pong talagang ilang mga maneuvers na ginawa ‘yung defense para ma-delay ‘yung proceedings,” Ridon said in an online briefing, addressing Duterte’s call for a speedy trial.
Ridon highlighted the defense’s refusal to stipulate on common exhibits, including acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for confidential fund expenditures from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).
“So katulad ho ng mga common exhibits, it is basically the same exhibits, acknowledgment receipts, pero they did not want to stipulate,” he said.
The disagreement over thousands of documents required intervention from Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who directed both parties to compare the records.
“So I think that’s an example na parang kung pinabayaan lang po ito ng presiding officer, hindi po talaga mare-resolve ‘yon sa pinakamaagang panahon,” Ridon noted, adding that both sides share the responsibility to prevent unnecessary delays. “So siyempre, ‘yung expediting the proceedings naman cuts both ways. So it’s not just for us. It’s also for the defense, but also for the court itself.”
Ridon urged the defense to agree on documents that originated from Duterte’s own offices. “But hopefully, ‘yun ho ‘yung mapagkaisahan. ‘Yun mga puwedeng ma-stipulate na common exhibits dapat hindi na ho talaga ‘yan pinapatagal, lalo’t higit galing din naman sa kanila, ito pong mga dokumentong ito,” he said.
Before inclement weather forced the cancellation of two trial days, Ridon noted the proceedings were moving continuously, expressing hope for a faster pace moving forward. “Barring another round of massive rainfall, hopefully naman ho wala nang further delays,” he said.