Photo credit: Paolo Ortega

The impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte is now entering a more structured and critical phase, as the prosecution formally submitted its pre-trial brief before the Senate impeachment court.

For Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, this development signals a shift from public debate and political noise to a process that should now be grounded firmly on evidence, procedure, and due process.

He said the filing of the pre-trial brief should help narrow the case to what can actually be proven in court, rather than being shaped by public narratives or political commentary.

“Isang hakbang pa ito papalapit sa katotohanan at pananagutan,” Ortega stressed.

“Sa ganitong proseso, ang kailangang tingnan ay ebidensya, batas at ang pagkakataon ng magkabilang panig na maipresent ang kanilang kaso,” he added.

The House prosecution panel’s pre-trial brief lays out the witnesses, documents, and key issues they intend to present in the impeachment trial, which includes allegations such as misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against top government officials.

For Ortega, this stage is important because it places the impeachment process under the discipline of a constitutional trial, where claims must be backed by proof and tested through proper legal procedure.

“Ang impeachment ay isang seryosong mekanismo ng Saligang Batas para timbangin at alamin kung may pananagutan ang isang mataas na opisyal ng bansa,” he added.

He also emphasized that the Senate impeachment court should serve as the proper venue where accusations are examined fairly and thoroughly, away from social media and informal forums.

“Every accusation should be heard in the proper forum, in this case the Senate impeachment court. Not in FB live streams, not in social media and certainly not in fake committee hearings that lack legality and jurisdiction," Ortega added.

Ortega warned that accountability loses meaning if it becomes selective or driven by political convenience, stressing that the same standards must apply to all public officials.

“Pareho ang dapat na pamantayan sa lahat,” Ortega maintained.

“Hindi puwedeng selective ang panawagan sa accountability. Kung seryoso tayo sa katotohanan, dapat seryoso rin tayo sa ebidensya at due process,” he added.

He said the submission of the pre-trial brief shows the impeachment trial is now moving into a phase where both sides will be judged based on what they can actually substantiate in court.

“Handa ang House prosecution panel na dalhin ang kaso sa prosesong itinakda ng Konstitusyon,” Ortega noted.

“Doon dapat magtagpo ang paratang, paliwanag, ebidensya at desisyon,” he added.

Ortega urged the public to follow the proceedings closely, saying the country deserves a fair, focused, and constitutionally grounded trial involving one of the highest offices in government.