VP Sara's Impeachment Trial: Prosecution's 'One-Sidedness' Under Scrutiny

Members of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte have stated that they are not expected to be neutral, a stance that counters remarks made by Senator Robin Padilla, an ally of Duterte, who suggested the prosecution should not be "one-sided." Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro responded to Senator Padilla's comment during the Senate impeachment proceedings, saying it would be more surprising if the prosecution were neutral. "Perhaps it would be more surprising if the prosecution became neutral. And perhaps it would be more surprising if we defended the respondent," Luistro stated. In a separate radio interview, Luistro reiterated her position, calling for the "political-neutrality" of the senator-judges. "If anyone here should be neutral, should not be one-sided, let us remind our countrymen, that is the senator-judges who should be in the middle," she told DZMM. "For the prosecution and the defense, it is natural that they are biased because they have their respective positions. But for the senator-judges, that is clear. The mandate is political neutrality, meaning you should not take sides regardless of political affiliations, you should be in the middle." Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan echoed this sentiment, explaining that both the prosecution and the defense are expected to advocate for their respective positions before the Senate impeachment court. "That is the quote of the day. Prosecution should really be one-sided, shouldn't it? That is the task of the prosecution. The defense is also one-sided because they have to prove the defense, right? So, both sides should be one-sided," Kapunan told reporters after the ninth day of the trial. Kapunan also expressed satisfaction with the prosecution panel's presentation of its final witness for Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which alleges grave threat. "We're very happy because I think, as Jinky said, as our lead prosecutor, there was even no need for redirect examination. We are happy that through our evidence, we were able to prove betrayal of public trust," she said. The impeachment trial against Duterte stems from articles approved by the House of Representatives, which include allegations of grave threats and inciting to sedition, alleged misuse of public funds, and alleged unexplained wealth. Meanwhile, political commentator Jesus Falcis noted that Senator Padilla later clarified his remark about the prosecution being "one-sided" referred to witnesses compared with senators facing pending cases. Falcis disputed this explanation, writing: "One, NBI agents aren't suspended by the Plunder law unlike Senators Jinggoy and Marcoleta. Two, palusot yan" (that's an excuse). He was referring to Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta. Estrada was arrested and detained for plunder and graft charges related to anomalous flood-control projects, while Marcoleta was detained over non-bailable plunder charges and violations of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts, in connection with an alleged P75 million in undeclared campaign contributions he accepted prior to the 2025 national and local elections. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, continues to hear the prosecution’s case and will resume its proceedings on July 29, two days after the fifth State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.