Senate impeachment court cuts short De Lima's opening remarks on alleged confi fund misuse of Sara Duterte

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday decided to cut the opening remarks of House prosecutor and ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima on why Vice President Sara Duterte should be should be convicted of impeachable offenses over misuse of hundreds of millions of confidential funds, saying it should be the witnesses who will testify on these matters.

Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero made the ruling after repeated objections from the part of the defense and even after Escudero cautioned De Lima against making statements that are conclusions of fact and law.

Prior to being cut short, De Lima said, “Kapag ang isang impeachable officer, tulad ng Pangalawang Pangulo, ay inabuso ang kapangyarihan sa paraang sumisira sa accountability o sumusuway sa pananagutan, dapat pa ba siyang pagkatiwalaan? Dapat pa ba syang manatili sa pwesto?

(If an impeachable officer, like the Vice President, has abused power in a way that destroys accountability or evades accountability, will she still be trusted? Should she still remain in her post?)

De Lima was referring to Article 1 of the four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte which alleges that the Vice President committed culpable violation of the culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust due to misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

“When the Filipino people entrusted their money to Vice President Sara Duterte, was that trust honored? That question will not be answered by politics, by general denials, by press releases. It will be answered by the witnesses, by the documents, by audit, and by the evidence. The prosecution is ready to present it,” De Lima added.

This prompted Escudero to interrupt her and say, “I would have to stop you at this point. The continued objection of the respondent is duly noted. I would have to stop you at this point.”

“My due apologies, but kindly call your witness already,” Escudero added.

The House prosecution panel then called on former LandBank Shaw Boulevard manager Violeta Constantino who was to testify as to how the P125 million of confidential fund was disbursed to the Office of the Vice President.

Prior to being cut short by Escudero, De Lima was able to say that the prosecution’s evidence will show that the Vice President committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust due to misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to VP Sara Duterte, through the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

“P612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to VP Sara Duterte, through the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. The Constitution entrusts this Court with the solemn duty to determine whether the respondent Vice President committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. his case is about P612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to VP Sara Duterte, through the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

“This is not about one missing receipt. This is not about a clerical error or accounting mistake. The evidence will reveal a pattern – a systemic course of conduct – that, taken as a whole, demonstrates graft and corruption, as well as betrayal of public trust,” De Lima said.

Defense counsel Michael Poa objected, saying that these remarks are grossly unfair because these were not told by the witness.

“I think we have to object to the statements being made by the Honorable De Lima. with all due respect of course. Your Honors, they can do that through the offer of their evidence, Your Honor,” Poa said.

“A continuation of such, really goes into the matter of fair play, Your Honor,” Poa added. — RSJ, GMA News