Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team has asserted that the Senate impeachment court must still enforce the sub judice rule on articles dropped by the prosecution.
Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol confirmed on Thursday that the defense counsel filed this manifestation.
The move is in response to the court’s previous ruling wherein all parties in the trial may publicly address the merits of the allegations previously charged against Duterte.
‘[Duterte] is not waiving Rule 18 and that she remains uninterested in any form of trial by publicity,’ Tongol wrote, citing the manifestation of the defense.
He noted that the vice president also ‘takes the position that the Court must maintain and enforce the sub judice rule to preserve the integrity of the proceedings and respect her constitutional rights.’
The prosecution withdrew Impeachment Articles I, III and IV, or Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and grave threats.
The defense’s manifestation activated Senator-judge Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan’s motion to reconsider the ruling of presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, which lifted the sub judice rule on the three articles.
Escudero previously explained that, in doing so, Duterte may speak on the evidence already presented before the court, but will no longer be used in the verdict.
Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison said the panel will first consult their client on the matter.
But she believes that abandoning the sub judice rule for articles already discussed will encourage the action of accusing Duterte without consequence.