VP Duterte's lead counsel twice warned for rule violation on impeachment trial's first day

Sheila Sison, the lead counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte, was twice called out for rule violations on Monday, the first day of Duterte’s impeachment trial. First, she was warned by the trial presiding officer, Sen. Francis Escudero, after she and Rep. Gerville Luistro, a member of the prosecution panel, began debating the prosecution’s motion for the four articles of impeachment to be read and for the vice president to enter a plea. Escudero stopped the simultaneous exchange, stating, “Let this not be a debate between the counsels.” He directed Sison to “make your comments and avoid asking questions from the counsel of the prosecution,” and to “address the chair with respect to anything and everything they want or wish to say and not to address each other.” Later, Rep. Chel Diokno, also from the House prosecution panel, called Sison out again. Addressing the presiding officer, Diokno noted that the defense counsel had already been directed not to pose questions to the prosecution. He added that this was the second time Sison had done so, appearing to “assume or arrogate the powers of the court,” as only the court, under the rules, can propound questions to counsels. Sison responded that her query was addressed to the presiding officer. Escudero acknowledged the remarks from both counsels and informed Sison that the presentation of witnesses would be addressed later. Meanwhile, Luistro justified her proposal for the reading of each impeachment article and for Duterte to enter a plea, asserting it was “very much consistent with the Senate rules on impeachment.” She explained that this would inform the Vice President of the accusations before she answers, and that the plea for each article could potentially differ.