The House prosecution panel expressed strong satisfaction following the first week of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, declaring that their primary witness successfully withstood intense cross-examination from the defense.
Robert Ace Barbers, the spokesperson and adviser for the prosecution team, praised National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent John Mark Calilung for remaining resolute on the stand.
Calilung’s testimony focused heavily on Article IV of the impeachment charges, which involves alleged threats made by Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez during a media briefing on November 23, 2024.
“Nakita natin dito sa Day 3 ng impeachment trial na kung saan ay nagkaroon ang cross examination ay hindi natibag o hindi nabutasan ang testimonya na inilatag, binigay ng ating witness na si Agent Mark Calilung,” Barbers remarked.
“Isa pang pruweba na siya ay nagsasabi ng katotohanan because he was very consistent with all his statements from the beginning and even during the cross examination, nakita natin na he was firm.”
“Tinayuan nga yung kanyang binitawang mga pahayag o testimonya during the first day that he was presented as witness for the prosecution.”
San Juan City Lone District Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora, a member of the prosecution team, noted that they decided to skip a redirect examination since Calilung had already answered all queries comprehensively.
She observed that while the defense panel tried to undermine the agent’s professional background and the integrity of the NBI’s investigation, their efforts fell short.
“Noong time ng defense para mag-cross (examine), may mga nilabas silang mga dokumento. Sa tingin namin, gusto nilang i-question ang credibility at yung training ng ating witness,” Zamora said. “Wala namang naipakita ang defense na matitibag ang statements na ginawa ni… Calilung kahapon sa kanyang direct examination.”
Zamora added that the witness maintained his composure even when questioned directly by the senator-judges.
“Narinig din natin ang mga tanong ng ating senator-judges at lahat naman ng kanilang katanungan ay nasagot ni… Calilung from questions regarding his training, questions regarding the investigation he conducted, and questions regarding the threats which he investigated,” she said, adding, “In fact, ang last statement ni agent John Mark Calilung ay yung threats ay absolute.”