Photo credit: Congress PH

The House prosecution panel expressed optimism on Friday as the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte continue to move forward, following the first day of the Senate impeachment court’s pre-trial conference.

Speaking in an interview, House impeachment trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said the proceedings have finally reached a stage where the constitutional process of accountability is actively underway.

According to Adiong, the prosecution team is encouraged by the developments and remains confident that the impeachment trial will continue as scheduled. He noted that disagreements and objections raised during Thursday’s session were a normal part of any pre-trial process and should not be interpreted as signs of conflict.

While describing the overall proceedings as productive, Adiong said the prosecution is already looking ahead to the next round of hearings set for June 22.

However, he also voiced disappointment over the defense panel’s pre-trial submission, saying it focused heavily on procedural issues instead of directly addressing the allegations contained in the Articles of Impeachment.

Adiong argued that many of the defense’s objections regarding the impeachment process have effectively been settled after the Senate formally assumed jurisdiction and convened as an impeachment court.

He stressed that the public had expected the proceedings to begin clarifying key accusations against the Vice President, including allegations involving the use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, the alleged bribery of Department of Education personnel, and purported threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“The public deserves answers,” Adiong said, emphasizing that many Filipinos were expecting the defense to respond to the allegations during the proceedings.

Instead, he noted that the defense largely reiterated its long-standing position questioning the legitimacy of the impeachment process itself.

The lawmaker also pointed out that Duterte’s camp had previously maintained it was ready to answer the accusations in the proper venue. Given that the impeachment court is now in session, Adiong said many observers were expecting those answers to finally be presented.

As the trial moves forward, the House prosecution panel says it remains focused on presenting its case while awaiting the defense’s response to the allegations at the center of the impeachment proceedings.