Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers has expressed opposition to shortening the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to speed up the process.
Serving as an adviser and spokesperson for the House prosecution team, Barbers stated his preference for prosecutors to exhaustively detail their evidence for each of the four impeachment grounds brought against the Vice President.
”Ako personally, sa tingin ko, mas magandang mailatag lahat yung apat na articles,” Barbers noted.
The impeachment action targets Duterte’s conviction over claims involving the alleged misapplication of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, omitted or inaccurate entries on her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), unexplainable assets, and public death threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Following 16 days of hearings, the prosecution concluded its submission of evidence regarding the death threats and is presently arguing its claims regarding the confidential funds.
Barbers maintained that thoroughly laying out all four charges is necessary to refute allegations from Duterte’s allies that the trial is purely partisan.
”Kasi maraming nagsasabi na ito ay isang pamumulitika, which we vehemently, of course, deny. Bakit? May ebidensya eh,” he emphasized.
Despite ongoing discussions proposing a abbreviated timeline on the grounds that a conviction on just one article suffices to remove the official, Barbers argued that every article carries distinct, substantiating proof.
”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,” Barbers remarked.
He pointed to the documented evidence presented during the grave threats phase as a key justification for allowing the public broadcast of the entire proceeding.
”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,” he added.
Barbers concluded that the ongoing submission on confidential funds comprises crucial documentation that works in tandem with the other accusations.
”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.