House impeachment prosecutors claimed a procedural victory Tuesday after the second day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying the Senate impeachment court allowed the case to move forward through the presentation of evidence despite repeated objections from the defense.
Trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution considered Day 2 a win because several defense objections were overruled and evidence was presented in open court.
“It’s very clear now that we’re, sabi ko ngayon hindi pa tapos itong araw na ito, but we’re claiming victory because all the motions that were raised by the defense, most of them were overruled,” Alonto Adiong said after the hearing was adjourned.
He said the proceedings strengthened the prosecution’s push to show the public the evidence behind the impeachment complaint.
“Ultimately, nakita natin ng taumbayan ngayon na habang tumutuloy itong impeachment trial, very clear na talagang lumalabas at lumalakas ’yung panawagan ng prosecution na ipakita sa taumbayan yung katotohanan,” he said.
Public prosecutor Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list said the prosecution was not keeping score on sustained or overruled objections. Instead, he said, the more important point was that the evidence was being placed on record and witnesses were being allowed to testify.
“Wala kaming tally sheet kung sino ’yung na-reject yung objection, sino ’yung na-sustain ’yung objection, sino ’yung na-utal,” Ridon said.
“Kasi ang mahalaga naman po rito, ’yung pagpapalabas mismo ng ebidensya either ng prosecution or nung depensa,” he added.
Ridon said the critical measure in litigation is whether evidence is admitted and whether examination of witnesses can proceed without being stalled.
“Ang most important metric in litigation, yun po nga naipasok yung mga ebidensya, naisalang yung ebidensya na hindi na-objection, na hindi po natitigil,” he said.
“So malaking tagumpay po ngayon,” Ridon added.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution had begun showing the public the basis of the impeachment case against Duterte.
“We have already shown to the public what evidence we have,” he said. “So in that sense, sabi ko nga we are claiming victory kasi mananalo dito ang taumbayan.”
He said the trial ultimately belongs to the public because the impeachment process is meant to answer demands for accountability.
“Para naman talaga sa kanila ang impeachment na ito at para malaman nila kung ano yung kaso na ipepresenta ng prosecution,” Alonto Adiong said.
The prosecution said Day 2 marked a shift from preliminary legal arguments to the formal presentation of evidence, giving the public a clearer view of how the case against Duterte will be tested before the Senate impeachment court.