By el Amigo
MANILA – Efforts to modify the presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte were shelved after the defense refused to endorse the proposed changes, leaving the Senate impeachment court to proceed under the original trial framework.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Wednesday that the suggested arrangement—which would have allowed the prosecution and defense to alternately present evidence—required the approval of both sides before it could take effect.
During a radio interview, Gatchalian disclosed that the defense submitted a letter opposing the proposal, effectively ending discussions on altering the trial sequence.
He stressed that the impeachment court chose not to impose the change unilaterally, preferring instead to preserve the principles of fairness and due process by honoring the requirement for mutual consent.
The defense, he said, cited four reasons for its opposition. Among its primary arguments was that the order of proceedings had already been finalized during the pretrial stage. It also argued that presenting its evidence only after the prosecution rests would give its legal team sufficient time to prepare an appropriate response.
As a result, the prosecution will continue presenting evidence under Article I on Wednesday. Among those expected to testify are two former Land Bank branch managers from the DepEd Branch and the Shaw Boulevard Branch, which serves the area near the Office of the Vice President.
Both versions preserve the original facts while using substantially different wording and structure to minimize textual similarity and improve readability.
elamiog/xf
