Padilla, lead prosecutor spar over role of prosecution in impeachment trial

In the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Robin Padilla told lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro that the prosecutor's job "is not to win but to seek the truth and protect the innocent." Padilla stated on Facebook that the prosecutor's duty "is not to win, but to seek the truth and protect the innocent." Meanwhile, Luistro argued that it is the prosecution's role to establish the case against the respondent, and it would be more irregular if the prosecution were neutral. Padilla's statement came after Luistro objected to his request for the prosecution not to present witnesses facing perjury charges. Luistro stated that the witnesses had no perjury complaints and that convictions were not grounds for disqualification. However, Padilla added that he hoped the prosecution would "not be one-sided." Luistro explained that the prosecution's job is to establish the case against the respondent, while the defense's job is to defend the respondent's innocence. Therefore, it is "very much anticipated" that the prosecution is biased towards presenting the case and evidence, and it would be "even more surprising" if the prosecution were neutral or if they were defending the respondent. Padilla later asserted that both parties should serve a single purpose: "to seek justice." He stated that in an ideal legal system, both the prosecution and the defense are established pillars serving a single purpose: justice. He concluded that justice should be completely neutral, blind to political alliances, and deaf to the whispers of power, as the moment it takes a side, it loses its meaning as justice and becomes nothing more than pure oppression.