The Senate impeachment court resumed its 10th trial day on July 22, with Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero presiding and Senate President Win Gatchalian leading the opening prayer. Fourteen senators were present as Land Bank personnel prepared to testify on Article I of the impeachment complaint involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds. COURTESY: Senate of the Philippines/YouTube.
The Senate impeachment court will continue hearing Article I of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte after her defense team rejected the prosecution’s proposal to change the order of presenting evidence.
Article I covers allegations that Duterte misused Php 612 million in confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and as secretary of the Department of Education.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the prosecution would proceed with presenting its evidence because the defense did not agree to the proposed article-by-article presentation.
He said changes to the trial procedure require the consent of both the prosecution and the defense before they can be adopted.
The House prosecution panel earlier asked the impeachment court to allow both sides to alternately present evidence for each article, saying the approach would make the proceedings more focused and efficient.
Gatchalian said the impeachment court could rule on procedural matters but preferred that both parties first reach an agreement to uphold fairness and due process.
The defense opposed the proposal, arguing that the presentation of evidence had already been settled during the pretrial proceedings.
With no agreement reached, the impeachment court proceeded with the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on Article I.
