House prosecutors said they would stay focused on building their case against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate impeachment court despite what they described as attempts to divert public attention from the evidence.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, spokesperson and adviser to the prosecution panel, said the team would not be drawn into competing narratives and would instead concentrate on presenting and strengthening its evidence.
“Ang para sa amin ho, doon tayo nakatutok sa ebidensya, ilatag itong ebidensya, i-substantiate itong ebidensya, patibayin ang ebidensya nang sa gayon mabasa ng ating mga senator-judges at ng ating mga kababayan kung ano ’yung kahalagahan at importansya nitong mga ebidensya na ito,” Barbers said during the Saturday News Forum.
Asked how the prosecution intended to convince the public amid competing interpretations of the impeachment proceedings, Barbers alleged that efforts were being made to distract attention from the central issues of the case.
“Makikita mo na may nagsusubo ng mga impormasyon para mailihis ang focus doon sa totoong katotohanan,” he said.
Barbers did not specify who was behind the alleged diversion attempts or what information he was referring to.
He said the prosecution would instead allow its evidence and witnesses to make its case before the senator-judges and the public.
The panel began presenting evidence on Article IV of the impeachment complaint during the opening week of the trial.
Its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, testified on the authenticity of video recordings related to Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 livestream.
Article IV concerns Duterte’s statements involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Barbers said Calilung’s testimony established the foundation for the prosecution’s presentation of evidence.
Succeeding witnesses are expected to discuss the significance of the authenticated recordings and present findings from the NBI investigation as the prosecution continues building its case.