VP Duterte's claim on Senate control may breach sub judice rule, says prosecution counsel

Prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. is urging for the fair application of the Senate impeachment court’s sub judice ruling, noting that Vice President Sara Duterte herself may have violated it by claiming that senator-judges were all under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s control. In an interview with reporters covering the House on Friday, Tolosa pointed out Duterte’s remarks, suggesting they could potentially contravene the principles of a fair trial. The sub judice rule is a legal principle that prevents parties or related individuals from making public statements during a trial that could influence the judgment of judges or juries. This statement from the Vice President could fuel speculation about the political dynamics within the administration, particularly between the President and Vice President. Such remarks, especially in the highly sensitive context of an impeachment trial, might be perceived as casting doubt on the fairness of the proceedings. While political disputes in the Philippines often play out in the public arena, stricter speech restrictions are expected in legal proceedings like impeachment trials. Tolosa’s assertion highlights the tension between these legal frameworks and the freedom of political discourse.