‘Genuine joy’: Luistro apologizes for prosecution’s wacky photo inside Senate
The lead prosecutor of Vice-President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial apologized Thursday for the prosecution team’s wacky photos inside the Senate session hall, which caught the attention of Senate President Win Gatchalian.
Calling it “an expression of joy among genuine friends”, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said prosecutors were excited after resting its case and were looking forward to their first break after 39 days of trial.
She said prosecutors posed for a “serious” photo inside the hall when someone suggested that they do a wacky pose as well.
“It was indeed an expression of joy among genuine friends after long days of preparation and trial,” Luistro said, noting that the prosecution has been together since July 6.
“Ngayon lang kami magkakaroon ng break. So it was genuine joy na nag-spring sa mga magkakaibigang magkakasama ng mahabang panahon. At ako po ay mauuna na ng paghingi ng paumanhin sa Senado, sa ating Senate President, sa lahat ng mga senador kung kami man po ay nakalampas. It was never our intention to make fun of the institution. It was never our intention to make fun of the Senate.”
Luistro said prosecutors have always respected and gave their highest regard to the Senate.
“Medyo hindi lamang po napigilan ang kaligayahang naramdaman sapagkat na-excite sa 3 weeks na magiging break ng impeachment trial. As simple as that.”
Gatchalian earlier said he has asked that security videos be checked to see if prosecution members really posed for photos inside the session hall.
“Ang session hall at ang Senado ay sagrado. Hindi naman tama na may ginagawa kang katawa-tawa sa loob ng ating institution,” he said, adding that he will likely issue a warning.
Prosecutors on Tuesday moved to drop 3 out of 4 Articles of Impeachment, saying there were “all in” on Article 2 or the allegation of unexplained wealth and SALN discrepancies against the Vice-President on the strength of the evidence.
Defense lawyer and former spokesman Michael Poa said it is likely that the defense will still try to present evidence and witnesses on the dropped Articles of Impeachment despite the Impeachment Court’s ruling.
Luistro reiterated the prosecution dropped the other Articles because they did not want to prolong the trial any further.
“It is the right of the Filipino people to witness the conclusion of this long impeachment process,” she said, adding that the court had already decided there would be no adjudicatory purpose for the defense to present evidence on Articles that will no longer be tackled in the trial.
“Kung itutuloy pa rin nila, what was the significance of our withdrawal kung itutuloy pa rin nila ang presentasyon? Hindi na itutuloy ang sakdal, anong sasagutin? Anong dahilan at maglalatag ng ebidensya gayong hindi na rin pagbobotohan ng ating impeachment court?”
She also pointed out her earlier observation that the Vice-President had always chosen to present her side in other fora including press conferences instead of answering the allegations in the House of Representatives justice committee or in the impeachment court.