Impeachment court chides prosec lawyer for ‘intramurals’, wasting time

MANILA, Philippines — Prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. received a scolding from the Senate impeachment court for engaging in “intramurals” with the defense lawyer and wasting time, after he started his examination of former Education Undersecretary Michael Poa on Wednesday by asking if he is a competent lawyer. At the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the court pointed out that lawyers were deviating from the main purpose of the proceedings and spending time on irrelevant arguments. Such delays are a concern for the efficiency of the judicial process. Impeachment trials of high-ranking officials in the Philippines often heighten political tensions, and the fairness and swift progress of the trial are matters of public interest. This incident underscores the importance of professionalism and time management in judicial proceedings.