Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense panel praised the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday, August 4, for maintaining fairness and extending equal opportunities to both the prosecution and the defense throughout the trial.
Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson and member of the defense team, made the assessment during a post-proceeding press conference, highlighting the court’s even-handed flexibility toward both sides.
”I think, in my opinion, the court has been fair,” Poa said. “They’ve been trying to extend liberality, and that applies to both parties,” he added.
Poa emphasized that the tribunal’s handling of procedural matters has been balanced, noting that latitude granted to one party has consistently been offered to the other.
He observed that this aligns with standard judicial practice, where rulings will not always satisfy every side and legal counsel must respect the court’s authority.
Explaining his courtroom strategy, Poa shared that he deliberately refrained from objecting to every prosecution question, opting to step in only when necessary.
”I try not to be petty,” he said, noting that private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan demonstrated similar restraint during cross-examinations.
Poa concluded that both legal teams ultimately share the goal of presenting all pertinent facts to the senator-judges, who hold the responsibility of delivering the final verdict.