The House prosecution should present all four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte rather than seek to end the trial after the confidential-funds phase, a prosecution adviser said Tuesday.
House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers rejected suggestions that prosecutors already have sufficient evidence to seek a judgment without completing their case.
“Ako, personally, sa tingin ko, mas magandang mailatag lahat yung apat na articles (Personally, I think it would be better to present all four articles),” Barbers said.
The House-approved impeachment case covers allegations involving the misuse and irregular liquidation of Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery at DepEd, and Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Barbers said completing the presentation would also address claims by Duterte supporters that the proceedings are politically motivated.
“Kasi maraming nagsasabi na ito ay isang pamumulitika (Because many are saying this is politically motivated), which we vehemently, of course, deny,” Barbers said, once again stressing that the prosecution has sufficient evidence against Duterte.
He said the case is anchored on evidence supporting each article, rather than rumor or political speculation.
Barbers cited the evidence already presented on Duterte’s alleged threats as an example of why the full case should be heard.
He said the confidential-funds phase likewise includes documentary evidence that should be considered alongside the remaining allegations.
“Kasi hindi mabubuo yung litrato pag kulang yung puzzle o kulang yung piece. Kaya dapat para sa akin i-diretso buuin natin yung apat na articles (Because the picture won’t be complete if a puzzle or a piece is missing. So, for me, we should continue and complete all four articles),” Barbers said.
Barbers also clarified that there is no gag order barring House prosecutors from speaking publicly about the impeachment trial and maintained that prosecution lawyers have not crossed the line into publicly arguing the merits of the pending case.
He made the clarification amid concerns over public comments by lawyers involved in the nationally televised proceedings.
“Wala pa namang (There’s no) gag order as of this time as we speak,” Barbers said.
Barbers also underscored the need for a lawyer among the House prosecution’s public communicators to ensure that technical legal questions about the impeachment trial are answered accurately.
“Kailangan pa rin ng abogado kasi kaming mga na-identify as spokespersons dito sa panel ng prosecution, hindi naman kami mga abogado (We still need a lawyer because those of us identified as spokespersons on the prosecution panel are not lawyers),” Barbers said.
The prosecution consists of 11 House members supported by 15 private prosecutors. Barbers was appointed prosecution spokesperson and impeachment adviser to help explain the proceedings to the public. (PNA)