House prosecutors: Senator-judges need to show up in-person to assess witness demeanor
MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors have urged the senator-judges to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in person, saying those watching from the live feed miss the chance of assessing how witnesses behave under questioning.
Sen. Robin Padilla uploaded photos yesterday showing himself, Sen. Mark Villar and Sen. Bong Go monitoring the impeachment trial from the Senate lounge.
In the photos, the three senators were still in their official scarlet robes, while a TV screen shows prosecution counsel Amando Ligutan during the direct examination of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta.
"Dito lang kami ng birthday boy na si Senator Mark Villar, kasama ang 'bisyo ay magserbisyo' na si Senator Bong Go sa Senate lounge, nakikinig sa trial," Padilla's post read.
The three senators were present during the opening of the proceedings before heading to the lounge for an apparent lunch break.
Other minority members such as Minority Leader Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano have also been notably absent from the floor.
Sen. Loren Legarda has been absent from the trial and Senate sessions since early August and has filed consecutive medical leaves up to August 19.
Asked about the senators' absence, the prosecution panel said at a press conference Tuesday, August 18, that witnesses' conduct can be better assessed live.
"The jurisprudence has recognized that in a lot of cases, it is very important that the judge who gives the decision on whether an accused is guilty or not [...] personally witnessed how those who gave testimony testified," Jay Tolosa, counsel to the prosecution panel and the panel's spokesperson said.
"Because it is very important that you can see in person the way he conducted himself, how he answered the question, mannerisms, reactions," Tolosa added.
Rep. Zia Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) similarly said the manner in which a witness answers forms part of the decision to acquit or convict, and that senator-judges also carry an obligation to promote and maintain the integrity of the court by sitting through the trial.
"We also respect the power of the Senate to give whatever leeway is appropriate to their members, the sitting senator-judges. But the one which demands [the court] to try and decide is not the prosecution, nor the defense ... The obligation, the responsibility also comes from being compliant with the demand of the Constitution to be present all the time," Adiong said.
Asked whether the court should compel attendance, Adiong declined to comment, noting that senator-judges are guided by their own impeachment rules.
"We will not do anything or say anything that would in fact give the impression that we are dictating upon the impeachment court," he said.
Yesterday marked the sixteenth day of a trial that's expected to run for 92 days.
Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President, testified, among others, that it was Duterte who instructed her to hand P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Lachica, head of her security group.
That admission was not new, as Acosta had previously testified to the same at a House hearing in 2024. But prosecutors believe the confirmation, spoken during the trial, has helped strengthen their case for Article I, which accuses Duterte of misuse of the secret funds.
- Latest
- Trending