Prosecutors back alternating with Sara defense in new per-article trial
The Philippine House prosecution panel has agreed to an 'article-per-article' trial format for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. This procedural change aims to accelerate the trial by allowing the defense to present evidence immediately after each prosecution charge.
Why it matters
Procedural shifts in high-stakes political trials can significantly impact the speed and outcome of impeachment proceedings, influencing national political stability.
MANILA, Philippines - The House prosecution panel has formally backed a plan to try Vice President Sara Duterte one charge at a time - a switch meant to speed up a trial in which her lawyers were not due to present their own evidence for months.
The prosecutors filed a manifestation Tuesday, July 28, agreeing to alternate with the defense on an "article per article basis," Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said at a press conference.
If Duterte's camp agrees, the court could scrap Wednesday's hearing on the confidential funds charge and let her lawyers open their case on grave threats Monday, their first evidence of the trial.
Under the pre-trial order, the prosecution has 62 trial days to run all four articles before the defense would get its turn. There are 30 trial days allotted for the defense.
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