Sara Duterte’s counsel objects to prosecutor’s usage of Waray language

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecutor’s usage of Waray language during Monday’s impeachment trial did not escape the attention of Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel.

During his cross-examination, private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan used the Waray language while addressing witness Jeremy Lotoc, whom the former said hailed from the same region.

Lotoc used to head the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) cybercrime division which investigated Duterte’s assassination threats against Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez during an online media briefing on November 23, 2024.

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READ: NBI witness says Duterte threats could trigger alleged hitman

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Lotoc is now the NBI Regional Director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Your honor, may I be allowed to make the manifestation?” defense lawyer Mark Vinluan said, interrupting Ligutan who was speaking in Waray.

An apparently incensed Ligutan said: “What? What’s the objection?”

“Your honor as I understand, only Filipino and English,” Vinluan said.

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Ligutan interjected: “Oh my goodness, be careful!”

“Because I cannot understand, your honor, what he is saying,” Vinluan continued. “So we just ask that he states his statement in Filipino or English.”

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The Senate impeachment court rules allow the use of both Filipino and English languages during the proceedings.

“Your honor, Filipino languages encompass all the languages, dialects; it includes our very own Waray-waray,” Ligutan stressed.

Impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero noted that the court rules indeed state the usage of both Filipino and English.

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“But I will let it go once in a while, but not each time,” Escudero told the parties, to which Vinluan submitted, while Ligutan thanked the presiding senator. /mr