Sara Duterte’s pre-trial brief shows ‘above the law’ mindset - Adiong

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s pre-trial brief for the impeachment proceedings supposedly reveals a mindset that she is beyond the reach of the law, as Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong noted that her inability to properly respond to the allegations reeks of disrespect.

In a press briefing, Adiong said that the lack of evidence to dispute allegations raised in the Articles of Impeachment indicates that they do not have any answer to the issues, or that they intend to avoid responding — possibly a feeling that the people are not entitled to an explanation.

“I can only think of two things, my observation that I can only derive for someone or some party who cannot even provide an explicit and direct to the point explanation to these allegations, after more than a year, is that they really do not have an answer or they do not want to answer,” Adiong, spokesperson of the prosecution panel for the impeachment trial, said partly in Filipino on Thursday.

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At the end of the day, as Rep. Renee Co said, if you don’t give at least respect to the court by explaining to the court what really happened as you are supposed to do, then the explanation is either you are not serious or you really feel that you don’t owe any people any explanation,” he added.

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Adiong said that if accountability mechanisms like the impeachment apply to all high-ranking officials, then it should apply to Duterte as well.

“It speaks about how they think that they are way beyond the reach of the law eh, it also speaks about the kind of mindset that — I’m sorry to say — that the Vice President feels, na you know, she thinks… this is an act of someone who thinks that she’s beyond reproach,” Adiong said.

“This impeachment proceeding is about accountability, it’s about the accountability mechanism of the Constitution, that no one should be above the law.  That if it is applied to any person or any impeachable officer, it should apply to the Vice President,” he added.

On Thursday, the first day of the pre-trial conference was held by the Senate Impeachment Court, so that parties to the case — the prosecution and the defense — can resolve the following matters before trial proper:

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Stipulation of facts and simplification of issues

Marking of documentary or real evidence and waiver of objections or admissions on evidence

Number and identification of witnesses

Setting of trial dates

The proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence and possible modification of the order of trial

Such other matters as will promote a fair and expeditious trial of the case

READ: Senate invites parties, sets June 18 impeachment pre-trial conference

Last Monday, both camps submitted their pre-trial brief, which contains stipulations, statements of facts, and a list of documents, evidence, and witnesses that they want to present during the trial.

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A copy of the defense’s pre-trial brief showed that Duterte wants arch-nemesis and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, along with former aide Ramil Madriaga and over 40 other individuals to testify during the trial.

Trillanes and Madriaga — two individuals who were resource persons when the House committee on justice heard the complaints against Duterte — were among the high-profile names included in the defense’s list of witnesses.

READ: Duterte camp wants Trillanes, at least 40 others, to testify in trial

In the same document, the defense accused the House of not providing them key documents during the course of hearings, reiterating that those documents not included in the two original complaints against her should not form part of the prosecution’s evidence.

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But several lawmakers, including Adiong, questioned why it seems that Duterte still has not answered the issues in the Articles of Impeachment, despite being given several chances and even if they repeatedly say that they are ready to explain their side. /gsg