By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The House prosecution panel declared the opening day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial a victory for the Constitution, saying the proceedings marked a significant step in fulfilling the accountability mechanisms provided under the country’s fundamental law.
Speaking during a press briefing after the first day of trial, House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said the prosecution was satisfied with the day’s developments, describing them as an important milestone in the impeachment process.
“The most important thing is that the constitutional process has begun and is being carried out,” Luistro said, adding that the public is witnessing the implementation of a constitutional duty entrusted to Congress.
Luistro made the remarks after the impeachment court denied an anti-subpoena appeal and ordered the return to the Bureau of Internal Revenue of a sealed box containing the tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
Despite the return of the documents, Luistro said the prosecution is awaiting a fresh request for the issuance of a subpoena covering an expanded list of BIR records, not limited to the couple’s income tax returns.
“We will seek additional documents that we believe are relevant to the case,” she said.
Luistro also addressed questions surrounding the number of votes required to convict the Vice President, acknowledging that legal experts have expressed differing interpretations of the constitutional threshold.
She noted that while some argue that at least 16 affirmative votes are necessary for conviction, others maintain that the required two-thirds vote should be computed based on the number of senator-judges actually present during the proceedings.
“Whatever interpretation ultimately prevails, our focus remains unchanged,” Luistro said. “The prosecution is determined to present its evidence in full and pursue this impeachment case until its conclusion.”
The House prosecution panel is expected to continue presenting its documentary and testimonial evidence as the impeachment court proceeds with hearings in the coming days.
ia/xf
