House impeachment adviser Robert Ace Barbers doesn't believe in brevity for brevity's sake as far as Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial is concerned.

This, as Barbers bared his personal preference for the House prosecution team to finish the presentation of evidence on all four articles of impeachment against Duterte.

“Ako personally, sa tingin ko, mas magandang mailatag lahat yung apat na articles,” said the former overall chairman of the House quad-committee.

(Personalliy, in my view, it would be better to present all the four articles.)

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.

In 16 hearing dates, the prosecution has completed presentation of its evidence on the death threats allegation and is right in the middle of its presentation on alleged confidential funds misuse.

⠀

According to Barbers, completing the presentations would be the perfect response to Duterte's supporters who continue to portray the proceedings as politically-motivated.

⠀

“Kasi maraming nagsasabi na ito ay isang pamumulitika, which we vehemently, of course, deny. Bakit? May ebidensya eh,” he added.

(Because many are saying this is politicking, which we vehemently, of course, deny. Why? Because there is evidence.)

For weeks now, the possibility of an abbreviated trial is being floated, since the respondent, Duterte, could be convicted based on just one article. But Barbers argued that the prosecution’s case rests on evidence supporting each of the four articles.

⠀

“Lahat itong articles na ito, itong apat na inilatag ng ating prosecution panel ay hindi ito haka-haka o hindi ito marites lamang dahil ito ay supportado ng mga ebidensya kagaya ng mga ipinapakita natin ngayon, kagaya ng inilalatag ngayon,” stressed the prosecution panel spokesperson.

(All these articles, these four laid out by our prosecution panel, are not mere speculation or gossip because they are supported by evidence such as what we are showing now, what is being presented now.)

He pointed to the evidence already presented concerning Duterte’s alleged threats as an example of why the full case should be heard in the livestreamed trial.

⠀

“Kung natatandaan niyo, yung first article, yung grave threats and inciting to sedition, very clear. Yung paglatag natin ng ebidensya, in fact, hindi dineny ng kabilang panig yung ebidensyang ginamit dito sa article na ito,” Barbers said.

(If you recall, the first article, grave threats and inciting to sedition, is very clear. In fact, the other side did not deny the evidence used in this article.)

The ex-Surigao del Norte congressman says the confidential funds article presentation before the senator-judges likewise contains documentary evidence that should be considered together with the remaining allegations.

⠀

“Kasi hindi mabubuo yung litrato pag kulang yung puzzle o kulang yung piece. Kaya dapat para sa akin i-diretso buuin natin yung apat na articles,” Barbers said.

(Because the picture cannot be completed if the puzzle or piece is missing. That is why, for me, we should go ahead and complete all four articles.)