Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the House prosecution panel met all of its objectives during the first week of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, giving the team a perfect rating for its opening performance.
“[From] one to 10, I would say that we are 10 over 10,” Luistro said in a television interview when asked to assess the prosecution’s work.
Luistro said the first three trial days were the most difficult for the panel because prosecutors were appearing before the Senate impeachment court for the first time and had to prepare for different possible scenarios.
“Day 1, include na rin natin up to Day 3, diyan pinakamataas ang level ng pressure for us kasi we do not know yet what kind of engagement we are going to have, what kind of encounters we are going to have, whether our concerns will be addressed and favorably acted upon by the impeachment court,” she said.
Despite the pressure, Luistro said the prosecution achieved the goals it had set for each day of the trial.
She said the objective on the opening day was to speak directly to the public through the prosecution’s opening statement and explain why the impeachment proceedings matter to Filipinos.
“For Day 1, the intention is to be able to reach out to the Filipino people. Pinilit nating makaabot sa lahat ng Pilipino, ang sabi ko nga, saang sulok man ng mundo kayo naroroon, because this concerns us,” Luistro said.
On the second day, Luistro said the panel was able to present all the evidence it intended to introduce through its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.
She credited prosecution counsel Amando Virgil Ligutan for laying out the panel’s documentary and digital evidence during Calilung’s direct examination.
Luistro said the defense’s objections did not prevent the prosecution from placing its evidence before the impeachment court.
“Ang pinakamahalaga sa amin doon, lumabas at nailatag lahat,” she said.
Luistro also said the prosecution was satisfied with the third day of proceedings, when the defense cross-examined Calilung.
“We are happy as well because we honestly believe na hindi nila na-debunk ang testimony na nailatag na during the direct examination,” Luistro said.
“Without dwelling into the specifics of the merits, the questions of the defense did not establish anything that will destroy the testimony that has been presented during Day 2 of the impeachment trial,” she added.
The prosecution ended the first week after presenting Calilung, who authenticated digital evidence and official government statements related to Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.
Article IV accuses Duterte of making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Calilung also underwent cross-examination by the defense before the prosecution concluded its presentation of its first witness.
Luistro said the panel remains focused on presenting its case when the impeachment trial resumes, expressing confidence in the evidence already placed before the Senate impeachment court.