IMPEACH EVIDENCE
THE evidence that will be presented at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on extra-judicial killings (EJKs) against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte may be considered in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
This was according House Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol party-list Jil Bongalon, a member of the House prosecution team, saying that the prosecution is open to using new evidence from the ICC if it strengthens the impeachment case.
“We can consider that because again all evidence that will of course make our case more strong or stronger, definitely can be used against the impeachment complaint,” Bongalon said in a press conference.
He noted that while the Articles of Impeachment had already been filed before the Senate and included voluminous pieces of evidence, new testimonial evidence or additional witnesses could still be considered.
“If there are other testimonial evidence, other witnesses who are willing to testify before the Senate sitting as an impeachment trial court, definitely we can consider that,” he added.
However, he emphasized that any new evidence must first be studied and discussed among the public and private prosecutors handling the case.
Meanwhile, Bongalon said the arrest of the former President is a loss to the defense team because from the very beginning the older Duterte has signified his intention to be one of VP Sara’s lawyer in the impeachment case.
A day after her father is brought to The Hague, VP Sara was reportedly flew to Amsterdam.
“The first thing that comes on my mind probably, nawalan na po ng isang defense lawyer si VP Sara. Right?” Bongalon said.
“Kasi ‘di ba nung pumutok ‘yung issue about the impeachment, isa sa mga nag-signify that will stand as a legal counsel will be former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he explained.
Bongalon, who is among the House prosecutors, also confirmed that he had been assigned to handle two key articles of impeachment against the Vice President.
“Well, I was tasked to handle Article 2 of the articles of impeachment plus Article 3. We are given the free will to join other Articles, but I guess these two articles are already enough for me to handle,” he said.
He explained that Article 2 covers the alleged misuse of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, while Article 3 pertains to bribery involving DepEd officials.
