The House prosecution panel has finalized the order of evidence it will present in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, opting to lead with the most severe allegations against her.
According to Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, a spokesperson for the prosecution, the team structured the sequence in accordance with instructions from the impeachment court. The trial will open with Article IV, which details accusations regarding a plot against the government.
“Article 4, assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting sedition against the government,” Adiong said.
Following the initial arguments, the panel will transition to financial and ethical allegations. The subsequent order will be:
- Article I: The alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds.
“Article 1, misuse of confidential funds,” Adiong added.
- Article III: Alleged bribery and corruption during her tenure at the Department of Education (DepEd).
- Article II: Claims of unexplained wealth, making false statements, and maintaining active business interests.
Prosecution Demands Clarity on Defense Witnesses
Beyond establishing their trial roadmap, the prosecution filed a formal request asking the impeachment court to compel the defense team to clarify its strategy. The panel noted that the defense has relied on general denials and has surprisingly adopted several witnesses originally listed by the prosecution.
Adiong emphasized that the defense needs to explain the specific roles these shared witnesses will play in their case.
“We want to specify exactly what would be the purpose by which the defense decided to include these witnesses,” Adiong explained.
The submission is part of the prosecution’s final pre-trial preparations as the historic legal proceedings advance.