Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros questioned the prosecution's strategy during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, arguing that the panel was rushing to present arguments instead of focusing on evidence.
Hontiveros challenges prosecution witness
The debate began when Hontiveros interrogated prosecution witness National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who testified about the agency's open-source intelligence review of Duterte's statements against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Calilung responded that two statements referred to Marcos and indicated that Duterte and the President had a deteriorating relationship since October 2024.
In an October 18 press conference, Duterte said she once thought about cutting off Marcos's head after realizing their relationship had become toxic. In a November 23, 2024 press conference, she claimed she had already contacted an assassin to kill the President, his wife, and Romualdez if she herself were killed.
Prosecution's argument on intent
Hontiveros turned to the House prosecution panel and noted that none of the evidence presented so far proves Duterte actually hired an assassin. “None of these statements are proof that the Vice President actually contracted an assassin or hired one. Why are these acts impeachable?” she asked.
House Prosecutor Armando Virgil Ligutan responded that the prosecution is building its case by showing Duterte's intent rather than proving the alleged contract killing at this stage. “The prosecution is in the process of establishing that the Vice President should be impeached for contracting an assassin to kill the President,” Ligutan said.
He acknowledged that Duterte's statements alone may not be “100 percent evidence” that she hired an assassin, but argued that under Rule 130, Section 35 of the Rules of Court, a person's statements can be admitted to prove intent, knowledge, identity, plan, or system. Ligutan stressed that the November 23, 2024 statements should not be dismissed.
