House lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro has urged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s defense to observe courtroom courtesy, saying its ample opportunity to challenge the court’s ruling should come with respect for the court and the people presenting the prosecution’s evidence.
Luistro made the appeal during the Senate Impeachment Court’s debate on the withdrawal of three articles, stating that opposing sides remained bound by the same duty to show courtesy.
Article I on confidential funds, Article III on bribery, and Article IV on grave threats were withdrawn, leaving Article II on unexplained wealth.
“In this light, Your Honor, we hope that the impeachment court will remind the defense that while we are adverse parties, we are bound to extend the necessary decorum and courtesy in this impeachment court,” Luistro said.
Luistro noted that the court had allowed the defense to argue its position against the ruling announced by Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero.
“The defense was given ample time by the honorable impeachment court to seemingly argue their position against the ruling just read by the honorable presiding officer,” Luistro also said.
“While the impeachment court is giving a very wide latitude to the defense, they seem to forget already decorum and courtesy, which must be extended not only to the prosecution but also to the honorable impeachment court most especially,” Luistro added.
Luistro then objected to the defense’s use of persecution, which counsel Sheila Sison had read from the respondent’s answer. The answer characterized earlier House hearings as a public display of modern-day persecution, with Sison identifying that characterization as part of the respondent’s affirmative defenses.
“Finally, Your Honor, on the use of persecution, we take offense to that,” Luistro said.
Luistro said the description was unfair to volunteer lawyers who had set aside their private practice to assist the public prosecutors.
“It is totally unfair on the part of the volunteer lawyers who are leaving their private practice just to be here, support the public prosecutors,” Luistro also said.
Luistro moved to strike persecution from the transcript. Escudero denied the motion, explaining that the term appeared in the respondent’s answer and described her view of the complaint, adding that it was not necessarily directed against the prosecution.