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Adiong Pushes Swift VP Sara Trial
Photo credit: Cong. Zia Alonto Adiong
House impeachment spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should move forward as soon as possible, stressing that prolonged delays would only fuel public skepticism and prevent Filipinos from hearing the evidence surrounding the case.
Speaking on ANC's Dateline Philippines, Adiong said the first pre-trial conference marked an important step after months of political debate and legal arguments over the impeachment complaint.
According to Adiong, the public deserves to see the proceedings move forward without unnecessary delays.
“Well, apart from the skepticism of the community, I think this is also an indication that the public really deserves to have the trial done the soonest possible time,” Adiong said.
The Senate impeachment court held its first pre-trial conference on June 18 after both the House prosecution panel and the Vice President's defense team submitted their respective pre-trial briefs. The proceedings focused on the marking of evidence, identification of witnesses, and other matters aimed at ensuring a fair and orderly trial.
Adiong explained that Articles One and Three of the impeachment complaint were tackled first, not because they carry more weight, but because they involve fewer witnesses and documentary evidence. He said the move was meant to speed up the process, while Articles Two and Four involve more extensive records.
He also noted that disagreements between the prosecution and defense are expected during pre-trial proceedings.
“Disagreements happen in a pre-trial conference. Many lawyers would attest to this. This is a normal occurrence because you have two panels with conflicting positions,” Adiong said.
Issues that are not admitted by either side, he said, will eventually be discussed during the actual trial. He added that forensic experts could be presented to authenticate videos connected to Article One and establish that they were not manipulated.
Adiong said the defense appeared to be urging the House prosecutors to agree to certain stipulations that they were under no obligation to accept. Following the discussions, the clerk of court directed both camps to submit their proposed stipulations in writing by June 22.
The House trial spokesperson also criticized what he described as the defense team's continued reliance on procedural objections and arguments questioning the constitutionality of the impeachment complaint instead of addressing the allegations themselves.
“So I guess this is the perfect opportunity in that proper forum to answer all these allegations instead of going back to the rehash narrative that they’re saying that, you know, this is all sham because there’s a constitutional infirmity,” Adiong said.
He argued that the impeachment process has already moved beyond those objections and that the defense should now directly answer the accusations contained in the Articles of Impeachment.
“If they don’t offer anything as a specific substantive response to the allegations or the evidence contained under the articles of impeachment, it would speak only one thing: they don’t have an answer,” Adiong said.
The House prosecution panel has repeatedly maintained that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, should hear the case instead of dismissing it outright, arguing that the Constitution provides for a full trial.
Vice President Duterte, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing and has described the impeachment complaint as politically motivated. Her legal team previously argued that the Articles of Impeachment are "constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient."
The impeachment trial is expected to formally begin on July 6. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding public office in the future, potentially affecting her prospects in the 2028 presidential race.
For Adiong, allowing the proceedings to continue is essential to maintaining public confidence in the impeachment court.
“The only way for us to really show to the public that this is the impeachment court will be impartial and would deliver sound judgment based on the evidence is to have the impeachment trial done the soonest possible time,” Adiong said.
Speaking on ANC's Dateline Philippines, Adiong said the first pre-trial conference marked an important step after months of political debate and legal arguments over the impeachment complaint.
According to Adiong, the public deserves to see the proceedings move forward without unnecessary delays.
“Well, apart from the skepticism of the community, I think this is also an indication that the public really deserves to have the trial done the soonest possible time,” Adiong said.
The Senate impeachment court held its first pre-trial conference on June 18 after both the House prosecution panel and the Vice President's defense team submitted their respective pre-trial briefs. The proceedings focused on the marking of evidence, identification of witnesses, and other matters aimed at ensuring a fair and orderly trial.
Adiong explained that Articles One and Three of the impeachment complaint were tackled first, not because they carry more weight, but because they involve fewer witnesses and documentary evidence. He said the move was meant to speed up the process, while Articles Two and Four involve more extensive records.
He also noted that disagreements between the prosecution and defense are expected during pre-trial proceedings.
“Disagreements happen in a pre-trial conference. Many lawyers would attest to this. This is a normal occurrence because you have two panels with conflicting positions,” Adiong said.
Issues that are not admitted by either side, he said, will eventually be discussed during the actual trial. He added that forensic experts could be presented to authenticate videos connected to Article One and establish that they were not manipulated.
Adiong said the defense appeared to be urging the House prosecutors to agree to certain stipulations that they were under no obligation to accept. Following the discussions, the clerk of court directed both camps to submit their proposed stipulations in writing by June 22.
The House trial spokesperson also criticized what he described as the defense team's continued reliance on procedural objections and arguments questioning the constitutionality of the impeachment complaint instead of addressing the allegations themselves.
“So I guess this is the perfect opportunity in that proper forum to answer all these allegations instead of going back to the rehash narrative that they’re saying that, you know, this is all sham because there’s a constitutional infirmity,” Adiong said.
He argued that the impeachment process has already moved beyond those objections and that the defense should now directly answer the accusations contained in the Articles of Impeachment.
“If they don’t offer anything as a specific substantive response to the allegations or the evidence contained under the articles of impeachment, it would speak only one thing: they don’t have an answer,” Adiong said.
The House prosecution panel has repeatedly maintained that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, should hear the case instead of dismissing it outright, arguing that the Constitution provides for a full trial.
Vice President Duterte, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing and has described the impeachment complaint as politically motivated. Her legal team previously argued that the Articles of Impeachment are "constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient."
The impeachment trial is expected to formally begin on July 6. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding public office in the future, potentially affecting her prospects in the 2028 presidential race.
For Adiong, allowing the proceedings to continue is essential to maintaining public confidence in the impeachment court.
“The only way for us to really show to the public that this is the impeachment court will be impartial and would deliver sound judgment based on the evidence is to have the impeachment trial done the soonest possible time,” Adiong said.
Jun 21, 2026
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