Sara defense team confident of acquittal ahead of impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — With just days left before the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, her lawyers have expressed confidence in getting her acquitted of her alleged offenses including misuse of funds, unexplained wealth and grave threats. “We are confident with our own case, with our defense,” Michael Poa, defense team spokesman, said. The Senate impeachment court has approved a 92-day trial for Duterte. “If we will be able to give the Vice President a solid defense, our job is to make it difficult, even for those who are politically adverse to the Vice President, to decide otherwise,” Poa added. Poa said they expect a challenging impeachment trial as the senator-judges, being politicians, would likely be swayed by public opinion. “But we also want to give the senator-judges the benefit of the doubt. They swore an oath to be politically neutral basically and to give their verdict based on the evidence,” Poa pointed out. In fact, he said the defense team sees no need to ask Sen. Risa Hotiveros to inhibit after she declared her readiness to run for president in 2028, if no candidate with proven honesty and integrity would come forward to challenge Duterte. “We still want to hold that position of giving the benefit of the doubt to all the senators,” Poa said. In total, the prosecution has 57 witnesses, while the defense has 45. The witnesses will testify under a strict one-day examination rule, meaning their testimonies must be completed on their scheduled date unless the court grants an extension for good cause. Anticipating an emotionally charged trial, Roman Catholic priests yesterday prayed for discernment and clearness of vision for the prosecutors, during a concelebrated mass at the Chapel of the Nativity of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City organized by the Clergy for Good Governance. “You, who have been appointed in the prosecution team in this impeachment trial of the Vice President, will be the voice of God,” said Monsignor Mel David in his homily. “You need the strength to carry the burden of the whole Philippine people searching for truth and searching for the right path that we have to take in the future, and in presenting the truth I do believe many of our senator-judges will finally be convinced and vote for the truth,” David said. Present during the mass were Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora, Dinagat Island Rep. Arlene Bag-ao, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, and private prosecutors Lorna Kapunan and Marforth Fua. Fr. Robert Reyes and Fr. Bong Sarabia, who were complainants in the impeachment case against Duterte, also attended the mass.