Impeachment Prosecutors Defend Use of Photocopies as Evidence

MANILA, Philippines — Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte defended yesterday the use of photocopied documents as evidence after her lawyers contested the presentation of a certified copy of an affidavit on the authenticity of a video recording of her alleged grave threats on the President. “In the presentation of documents before the court, under the updated rules on evidence, there’s no need to present only original document all the time,” prosecution spokesman Jay Tolosa Jr. said at a press briefing. He explained that photocopies are considered as originals and can be presented as evidence in court “provided that there’s no genuine issue regarding its authenticity.” The defense team raised the issue on the use of photocopied documents during the second day of the impeachment trial where National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent Mark Calilung testified on authenticating a video of Duterte showing her making the alleged death threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez. Aside from a copy of Calilung’s affidavit, other pieces of evidence presented at last Tuesday’s trial were printed screenshots of the NBI’s request for the preservation of the video, which was livestreamed on Facebook. Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said the 16-vote threshold for Duterte conviction may be challenged before the Supreme Court after presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero declared it as the impeachment court’s official position. Lacson said he has no objection to the 16-vote threshold as the Senate still has 24 members under the 20th Congress despite the detention of Sens. Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada and the continued absence of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who has been in hiding since May 14. – Mark Ernest Villeza, Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab