House prosecutors claimed a major breakthrough following the second day of the Senate impeachment trial, pointing to the steady presentation of their case and the court’s decisions to overrule several defense objections.
At a press briefing after the adjournment, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, speaking as the prosecution panel’s spokesperson, labeled the day a milestone since the public was finally able to view their evidence.
“It’s very clear now that we’re, sabi ko ngayon hindi pa tapos itong araw na ito, but we’re claiming victory because all the motions that were raised by the defense, most of them were overruled,” Adiong stated.
Adiong emphasized that their core mission is transparency, ensuring that the facts of the impeachment case are brought to light for the Filipino people.
“We have already shown to the public what evidence we have,” he said. “Ultimately, nakita ng taumbayan ngayon na habang tumutuloy itong impeachment trial, very clear na talagang lumalabas at lakas ‘yung panawagan ng prosecution na ipakita sa taumbayan yung katotohanan.”
Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, another public prosecutor on the team, clarified that their definition of success is not measured by courtroom technicalities or tallying legal spats, but rather by the substantive movement of the trial.
“Wala kaming tally sheet kung sino ‘yung na-reject yung objection, sino ‘yung na-sustain ‘yung objection, sino ‘yung na-utal,” Ridon remarked.
“Kasi ang mahalaga naman po rito, ‘yung pagpapalabas mismo ng ebidensya either ng prosecution or nung depensa.”
Ridon maintained that the true indicator of progress is the smooth introduction of evidence and the unhindered testimony of witnesses, concluding,
“So malaking tagumpay po ngayon.”