Lead prosecutor: Day 1 of impeachment trial win for Filipinos

MANILA – House Lead Prosecutor Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas on Monday welcomed the first day of the Senate impeachment trial, saying the proceedings showed that the constitutional accountability process is moving.

“Finally, in our impeachment trial, we would like to express our commendation, of course, to the impeachment court for responding to the mandate of the Constitution,” Luistro said in a press conference after the end of the first day of trial.

“This is a win for the Filipino people because the accountability mechanism is happening, the Constitution is being followed,” she added.

She noted that both sides delivered their opening statements and addressed issues raised during the pre-trial conference.

“And tomorrow, finally, we will be starting the presentation of evidence,” she said.

She also noted that the impeachment court had recognized the prosecution’s proposed sequence for presenting the Articles of Impeachment.

Under the prosecution’s sequence, the panel will first present evidence on Article IV, or the alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Meanwhile, House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said the first day of the Senate impeachment trial should not be framed as a win-or-loss moment for the prosecution, but as the formal start of the constitutional process.

Barbers said the more important development was that the trial had opened despite earlier claims that it would not push through.

“Ang nangyari ngayong araw na ito, nakita naman natin na nag-umpisa ang trial. Napakaraming sinabi before the trial started kasi maraming stories na hindi daw ito matutuloy (What happened today is the trial has started. There were a lot of things said before the trial started because there were a lot of stories about the trial is not pushing through),” he said.

He also addressed the impeachment court’s order to return the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue box to the tax bureau, saying that this does not erase its evidentiary value.

The prosecution, he said, may offer the records again at the proper stage of the proceedings.

“At the proper time, ibabalik po ito, i-o-offer po ulit ito ng ating prosecution (it will be returned, the prosecution will offer it again), and hopefully the court will admit this as an evidence,” Barbers said.

He said the prosecution will continue presenting evidence as the trial moves forward.

“So as the trial progresses, I’m sure marami pang mga itutulak ang ating prosecution para mapagtibay ang (the prosecution will push more evidence to strengthen the) articles of impeachment against the respondent,” Barbers said.

Meanwhile, two labor groups supported the start of the impeachment trial of Duterte.

Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa Deputy Secretary General Nice Coronacion said the ongoing impeachment proceedings are a constitutional mechanism designed to uphold democratic accountability by ensuring that serious allegations against the country’s highest public officials are examined through evidence and due process.

“Allowing the impeachment process to proceed is not a declaration of guilt. It is an affirmation that no one is above the Constitution,” he said.

“The same standards of fairness and accountability expected of ordinary workers must equally apply to those who hold the highest offices in government,” Coronacion added.

Partido Manggagawa National Chairperson and NAGKAISA! spokesperson Rene Magtubo called on every senator to rise above partisan interests and faithfully discharge their constitutional duty as impartial members of the impeachment court.

“Their highest obligation is to the Constitution and the Filipino people,” he said.

“The labor movement will continue to defend democratic institutions, the rule of law, and equal accountability for all because these are essential to achieving decent work, social justice, and a truly democratic society,” Magtubo said. 

— Jose Cielito Reganit with a report from Ferdinand Patinio (PNA)