Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday challenged the prosecutors and members of Congress to prove her impeachable offense ‘with evidence-not insults, speculation, or political theatrics.’
In a statement, Duterte said that if the prosecutors and members of Congress wanted to ‘legitimize’ the two impeachment complaints against her she claimed ‘filed without a shred of evidence,’ they should be confident in the strength of the case.
‘They should not be fishing for evidence during the trial or desperately try to turn something they wish to be true into a wild story of alleged wrongdoing,’ Duterte stressed.
A strong case, she also pointed out, does not need the adornment of theatrics.
She cited that a senator calling a witness ‘stupid,’ a lawyer calling her the ‘mastermind of a scam’ or another witness referring to her as a ‘brat’ does not prove a case, nor does it produce evidence.
‘Insults reveal the need to feign confidence in the face of a weak presentation,’ she said.
‘Mga kababayan, lubog na ang bansa sa baha at kahirapan, pero tila walang mananagot, dahil ang impeachment, ang paghati-hatian ang 2027 budget, at ang paghahanda kung papaano baliin ang Constitution para manatili sa puwesto ang prayoridad ng administrasyon at lahat ng kaalyado nito,’ she furthered.
The ‘senator’ Duterte was apparently referring to is Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo who described former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta as ‘stupid in the name of blind loyalty’ during the 17th day of the impeachment trial.
On Tuesday, the day 18 of the trial, private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia used the words ‘scam’ and ‘mastermind,’ which the prosecution lawyer used in her direct examination of OVP Asec. Lemuel Ortonio, a hostile witness.
Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer immediately objected and moved to strike the statement from the record.
‘Your honor, please, objection. Moved to strike, your honor, the statement,’ Ferrer said.
She then complained to the impeachment court about what she said is the frequent use of such terms by the prosecution, especially during their closing arguments.
‘We would like to ask the court to remind the prosecution not to use inappropriate words like scam, mastermind and nagsisinungaling. This is the third time your honor that we heard those words, specifically the word ‘scam.’ This is a solemn proceeding, this is a court of law, a court of procedures, and actually, a court of decorum and we are not supposed to make accusation, conclusion or insinuation, so we request the court to kindly remind the prosecution,’ Ferrer said.
‘It does seem that it’s becoming a habit. I would rather use the word ‘habit’ than ‘pattern’ for the panel of prosecutors to close their direct examination with such strong statements,’ Ferrer added.
The defense counsel said such words were ‘inappropriate’ for the proceedings.
Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said he agreed with the defense on the matter.
Duterte was also referring to the July 21, 2026, trial wherein during cross-examination by defense lawyer Mark Vinluan National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag stated that he heard the term ‘bratinella’ used by former President Rodrigo Duterte when referring to the Vice President.
Leading questions not misleading questions
Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer clarified during the 19th day of the impeachment trial that she meant to say ‘leading questions,’ not ‘misleading questions,’ were allowed during the cross-examination on August 12 impeachment trial.
However, private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan was not convinced, and maintained that Ferrer had been referring to misleading questions.
‘Before I start my cross-examination, just to put the record straight, your honor. When I said they are allowed, I was referring to leading questions,’ said Ferrer who raised the matter before she started her cross- examination of Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.
‘Because the journal dated August 12 would show that I was indeed asking a leading question before Atty. Kapunan objected, your honor,’ she added, recalling the incident when she cross-examined of Commission on Audit auditor Xylene Mae del Campo.
Ferrer also said she should be allowed to ask questions in her own manner.
She said she was asking a leading question to del Campo when Kapunan objected.
‘So, if we take a look at it, with all due respect, the objection was even improper at that time, your honor,’ Ferrer said.
Kapunan, however, said that some questions are not simply answerable by a simple yes or no.
Spokesperson for the defense team Atty. Michael Poa emphasized their team’s commitment following the rulings of the impeachment court, including the recent order concerning their public statements.
Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero on Wednesday issued a strict enforcement of the sub judice rule, prohibiting public discussions, media commentary, or outside statements regarding the merits of the active case.
However, due to the matter, Poa said that he will discuss with Duterte. He also apologized to the members of the media after he declined some scheduled interviews
‘But I appreciate, of course, the ruling of the presiding officer,’ he said, adding that he totally agree to the decision.
‘But to be honest, we don’t want to comment any further,’ he said.
Poa also said that the defense is actively looking for a new spokesperson to better manage communications and explain the technical legal process to the public.