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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara camp says Senate impeachment court has been fair to both sides

VP Sara camp says Senate impeachment court has been fair to both sides

Defense says prosecution and defense have been given equal leeway during the impeachment trial proceedings

Published Aug 4, 2026 05:00 pm

At A Glance

  • Defense says the Senate impeachment court has treated both sides fairly.
  • Poa says both the prosecution and the defense have been given equal leeway during the proceedings.
  • Senator-judges will ultimately decide the outcome of the impeachment case.
Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said the Senate impeachment court has fairly handled the proceedings by giving equal opportunities to both the prosecution and the defense. (Manila Bulletin file photo)
Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said the Senate impeachment court has fairly handled the proceedings by giving equal opportunities to both the prosecution and the defense. (Manila Bulletin file photo)
Recognizing that both the prosecution and the defense have been given equal opportunities to present their arguments, the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Aug. 4, said the Senate impeachment court has been fair in handling the proceedings.
Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, speaking during a press briefing after the day's hearing, said he believes the impeachment court has extended the same degree of liberality to both parties.
"I think, in my opinion, the court has been fair," Poa said. "They've been trying to extend liberality, and that applies to both parties," he added.
Poa said the court has been fair because whatever leeway was granted to one party was likewise granted to the other.
He added that, as in regular court proceedings, rulings do not always favor one side and that lawyers are expected to respect the court's decisions.
Avoiding ‘unnecessary’ objections
Poa said he deliberately refrained from objecting to every question raised by the prosecution, preferring instead to focus only on issues he considered significant.
"I try not to be petty," he said, adding that he believed the prosecution lawyer, Atty. Lorna Kapunan exercised the same restraint during cross-examination.
According to Poa, both parties are ultimately working to present the facts before the senator-judges, who will decide the outcome of the impeachment case. 

Related Tags

Sara Duterte impeachment Senate impeachment trial Michael Poa Senate impeachment court Sara Duterte news
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