House prosecution submits evidence 2 days before deadline in VP Sara impeach trial

The House prosecution has submitted its formal offer of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte ahead of the October 23 deadline.

This gave the defense time to respond before hearings resume on November 9.

Ace Barbers, House impeachment adviser and trial spokesperson, said the prosecution filed the evidence on Wednesday, October 21, two days before the deadline set by the Senate impeachment court.

“We already filed yung ating formal offer of evidence nung, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ito ay nung Wednesday. And this is days before the deadline,” Barbers said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City. 

This gives Duterte’s defense team 10 days to submit its comments on the prosecution’s evidence.

Barbers hopes that the defense will be able to complete its response before the impeachment trial resumes November 9.

“Hopefully, sana nga bago mag-resume ay nakapagbigay na rin sila ng kanilang comment dito sa ating formal offer of evidence,” he said.

The formal offer follows the prosecution’s decision to rest its case on Article II, which accuses Duterte of unexplained wealth and violations involving her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The prosecution earlier withdrew the three other impeachment articles to focus on the unexplained wealth allegations.

The Senate impeachment court will determine which of the prosecution’s formally offered evidence will be admitted before the defense presents its case.