Members of the House prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte's upcoming impeachment trial said that a delay in the proceedings doesn't equate to an advantage for the respondent.

Public prosecutor Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and prosecution panel spokesperson Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co had this to say even as there appeared to be no immediate end in sight to the leadership impasse in the Senate.

Asked if the internal dispute in the Senate particularly between the Gatchalian bloc and Cayetano bloc gives an advantage to the Duterte camp, Diokno answered in the negative.

“I don’t see that what is happening in the Senate will be an advantage to the defense team. This is about the evidence,” he said.

For Co, such political issues in the upper chamber doesn't favor anyone since that both prosecution and defense were bound by the evidence to be presented in court.

“I think ang further delay ay disadvantage din to the defense dahil gusto natin ‘yung mga ebidensya at sagot ni VP ng defense doon sa articles of impeachment na nanggaling sa citizens’ complaints no at duly na-process ng House Committee on Justice ay ma-dispense with na,” she said.

(I think further delay is also a disadvantage to the defense because we want the evidence and the VP’s answers from the defense to the articles of impeachment, which came from citizens’ complaints and were duly processed by the House Committee on Justice, to be dispensed with.)

Diokno and the rest of 11-member prosecution panel have repeatedly said that the evidence against Duterte is strong.

Co noted that any delay in the proceedings would ultimately affect all parties, including the defense. She says the impeachment process is meant to resolve the allegations with finality.

“Kaya ang gusto natin matapos na ang paglilitis para sa punot-dulo nito kung ano man ang alegasyon. Ang pagtutuloy-tuloy ng paglilitis will be to the advantage of due process and all institutions facing these allegations,” the prosecution mouthpiece said.

(Therefore, what we want is to finish the trial to reach the root of whatever allegation there may be. The continuation of the trial will be to the advantage of due process and all institutions facing these allegations.)

Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Diokno has reminded the Vice President that she is required to personally appear before the Senate impeachment court to enter her plea, despite how dismissive she has been of the entire process.

He says the entering of plea forms part of the procedures mandated under the Senate rules on impeachment trials.

If, somehow, no plea is entered, then the impeachment court will enter a plea of "not guilty" on her behalf, noted Diokno.

“Kung titingnan po natin ‘yung rules of the Senate as an impeachment court, malinaw na nakalagay doon na aside from ‘yung utos na sagutin ni Vice President ‘yung articles of impeachment, dapat din magkaroon ng isang hearing na haharap ng Bise Presidente sa impeachment court at doon malalaman kung ano ‘yung magiging plea niya," explained the lawyer-solon.

(If we look at the rules of the Senate as an impeachment court, it is clearly stated there that aside from the order for the Vice President to answer the articles of impeachment, there must also be a hearing where the Vice President appears before the impeachment court and declares his plea.)

"Kung halimbawa ayaw niyang pumunta then the automatic under the rules that will be considered as a plea of not guilty,” he said.

(If, for example, he refuses to appear, then automatically under the rules that will be considered a plea of not guilty.)

“On the other hand, the rules also provide that the respondent has the choice of entering a plea of 'guilty' during that hearing,” he added.