The mild-mannered and soft-spoken House prosecutor Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor is never one to gloat.

But he couldn't help but point out that Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team hasn't been able to shake the prosecution's witnesses so far in the lady official's ongoing Senate impeachment trial.

Speaking in a recent press conference, Defensor reckoned that the defense lawyers have failed to discredit the witnesses or force them to walk back on their testimony as to the authenticity, content, and gravity of Duterte’s recorded death threats to President Marcos and other members of the First Family.

“Kahit dalawa, tatlo at apat na oras mong i-cross-examine ang aming testigo, wala kang mapipiga sa testigong nagsasabi ng totoo at walang itinatago,” Defensor noted.

(Even if you cross-examine our witness for two, three, or four hours, you will get nothing from a witness who tells the truth and hides nothing.)

The prosecution panel have so far called to the witness stand Senior Agent John Mark Calilung and Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, both from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The NBI is the agency that investigated respondent Duterte's Nov. 23, 2024 death threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The defense spent considerable time testing the witnesses on the handling and authentication of the recordings, the investigative documents and the basis for the NBI conclusions.

In Defensor's opinion, the Vice President’s camp hasn't been able to make a dent in Calilung and Lotoc’s testimonies.

“That is why the prosecution is confident that we have presented our case clearly to the impeachment court, as well as to all Filipinos who are watching the impeachment proceedings,” he explained.

Calilung and Lotoc were two of the original 11 witness listed by the prosecution for article IV (grave threats and inciting to sedition) of the articles of impeachment against Duterte.

So confident was the prosecution of the results of their direct examinations of the two witnesses that they decided to drop eight of their nine remaining witnesses. NBI Director Melvin Matibag, who will appear in court on July 21, will be the panel’s final witness for article IV.

Defensor wasn't done roasting the defense, which he blamed for prolonging the high-stakes trial.

“The prosecution has greatly benefited with the pace of the trial. Kasi paulit-ulit na lumalabas yung aming ebidensya, at paulit-ulit na nasasabi ng aming mga testigo bakit ito naging violation, hindi lang sa batas as a threat, but it's a violation of the Constitution in the form of betrayal of public trust,” he noted.

(Our evidence keeps coming out repeatedly, and our witnesses keep explaining why this is a violation,,not only of the law as a threat, but also of the Constitution in the form of betrayal of public trust.)

“Ang cross-examination lang naman ng defense ang nagpatagal sa trial. Kung dalawa o tatlong oras ulit ang kanilang pag-cross-examine sa mga susunod naming testigo, sigurado akong Valentine's Day tayo matatapos,” he quipped.

(The defense’s cross-examination is the only thing that has prolonged the trial. If they again spend two or three hours cross-examining our next witnesses, I am sure we will finish by Valentine’s Day.)

Defensor maintained that Matibag’s testimony would tie together the remaining portions of the NBI probe and leave no need for more witnesses who would cover ground already established.

“After the testimony of Director Matibag, it will be the right time to stop. Naging matatag at malinaw ang pagpresenta ng aming ebidensya. Our witnesses who are credible have said that the case is airtight at sigurado silang the threat is real,” he stressed.

(Our presentation of evidence has been strong and clear. Our credible witnesses have said the case is airtight and they are certain the threat is real.)