House prosecution panel spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong has urged the Senate impeachment court to strictly and evenly enforce the sub judice rule amid ongoing public remarks concerning Vice President Sara Duterte’s ongoing trial.
Adiong emphasized that restrictions against statements undermining the proceedings must apply impartially to both the prosecution and defense camps, pointing out that representatives acting as conduits for either side should be held to the same standard.
The appeal followed persistent public criticism from Duterte’s spokesperson, Atty. Paolo Panelo, who questioned the structure of the trial and criticized the prosecution’s choice to drop three of the original impeachment charges.
Panelo previously argued that discussions regarding a potential replacement for the Vice President were premature and claimed that withdrawing the three articles wasted public resources while depriving Duterte of an early opportunity to clear her name.
A guilty verdict in the high-stakes proceedings would result in the Vice President’s unseating and permanent disqualification from public office. While acknowledging the 1987 Constitution grants the Senate exclusive power to formulate its own operational rules for impeachment, Adiong stressed that established boundaries must be respected.
“Matagal na po natin sinasabi ito na yung sub judice rule should also apply equally on both sides including those who’ve been acting as the conveyor of the position taken by both panels,” Adiong said during a press briefing.
The sub judice parameters were initially outlined in August by Senate President and presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who barred parties from publicly debating factual disputes, witness credibility, evidence sufficiency, legal defenses, or expected trial outcomes.
Since then, the court has reprimanded multiple figures, including prosecution members, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon and Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr.
Addressing broader criticism, Adiong accused some of Duterte’s supporters of deliberately utilizing procedural disputes to erode public confidence in the trial.
“Because nakikita naman natin din na part of the strategy nila to actually cause doubt in the minds of the public,” he stated.
Adiong likewise dismissed assertions that narrowing the case down exclusively to Article II—while dropping previous charges involving confidential fund mismanagement, bribery, and grave threats—amounted to squandered resources.
“Hindi po nasasayang ‘yan kung ang pinag-uusapan po natin ay holding impeachable officers or public officers for that matter to account,” he noted.