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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pinoys will change mind on VP Sara impeachment once they see evidence in trial--House prosecutors

Pinoys will change mind on VP Sara impeachment once they see evidence in trial--House prosecutors

Published Jul 9, 2025 01:20 pm

At A Glance

  • Two House prosecution team members believe that more Filipinos will be swayed to support the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte if and when the Senate decides to start the actual trial.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)


Two House prosecution team members believe that more Filipinos will be swayed to support the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte if and when the Senate decides to start the actual trial.
Sharing this opinion were lawyer-solons Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Batangas 1st district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro.
The two were asked Wednesday, July 9 to react on the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed that 42 percent of Filipinos disagreed with the filing of the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte. Only 32 percent of the respondents agreed with the move.
The fourth complaint that was ultimately endorsed and verified by the House and then transmitted to the Senate for action last Feb. 5.
De Lima and Luistro said that the Senate impeachment trial would allow the evidence to be appreciated more by the public.
"I share that view na kapag nandyan na yung ebidensya, nananalig kami, umaasa kami na mag-iiba ang pananaw ng mga nagsasabi na yan na hindi nila gusto ang impeachment (I share that view that once the evidence is presented, we remain hopeful and believe that those who say they oppose the impeachment would change their perspective)," the former senator said in a chance interview.
"Kasi siguro naiimpluwensyahan lang yan ng mga disinformation, naiimpluwensyahan din yan ng mga komento ng ilang mga senator-judges na in the first place, hindi dapat sila nagbibigay ng mga komento na nagpapakita ng kanilang prejudices na para bang nagpre-prejudge na sila without yet looking at the evidence," she added.
(Perhaps their stance is being influenced by disinformation, and also by remarks from certain senator-judges who, in the first place, should not be making comments that reveal their prejudices as if they’re already prejudging the case without even looking at the evidence.)
It is the senator-judges' task to determine the guilt or innocence of the impeachable officer--in this case, Duterte--based on the articles of impeachment.
"It has been our position and humble submission, ito po yung matagal nang sinasabi ng prosecution team (this is what the prosecution team has long been saying), we have ample and strong evidence supporting the seven articles of impeachment," Luistro said in a separate interview.
"And we honestly believe that once we are allowed to proceed with the presentation of evidence, a lot of Filipinos will be watching and we'll be basing their respective positions on the evidence that they will be seeing during the trial. That is why it's very important that we proceed to trial," said the Batangas solon.
The House prosecution panel has been waiting for the Senate to begin Duterte's trial for five months.
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