Manila: House impeachment adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday emphasized the importance of evidence in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, urging the public to focus on the facts and the Constitution rather than alleged clerical errors in investigative documents.
According to Philippines News Agency, Barbers made it clear that the integrity of the evidence presented should not be overshadowed by typographical mistakes. He stressed that the impeachment trial is not about spelling errors but about whether such discrepancies affect the validity of the evidence. Barbers highlighted the importance of due process, allowing the defense to examine documents and raise relevant legal issues, but maintained that the focus should remain on whether the alleged discrepancies materially change the facts or prejudice the respondent's rights.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union supported Barbers' viewpoint, stating that while questioning official records is a legitimate part of cross-examination, it cannot substitute for addressing the testimony and evidence. Ortega mentioned that former NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc had provided prima facie evidence supporting the charges against Duterte, and any clerical errors must be proven to have altered the investigation's integrity to impact the case.
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo noted that the documentary errors raised did not undermine the prosecution's case under Article IV. She emphasized that the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the authenticity of the recordings in question, and the defense's focus on document preparation issues did not address the core allegations of public trust betrayal.
Private prosecutor and House prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin 'Jay' Tolosa Jr. argued that the impeachment court must assess the weight of Lotoc's testimony, noting that the defense's emphasis on clerical discrepancies was an attempt to argue the inadequacy of the NBI investigation. He reiterated that the substantial issues pertain to the authenticity and implications of Duterte's statements.
Meanwhile, House prosecutor Terry Ridon addressed the defense's potential introduction of 'Operation Romanov' as a contextual element in the trial, pointing out that the defense needs to establish its relevance and origin. The focus, Ridon insisted, should remain on whether Duterte's statements constituted a betrayal of public trust.
