Duterte defense team says impeachment prosecutors failed to prove case

MANILA — Lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., representing Vice President Sara Duterte, contended that the impeachment prosecution panel has not substantiated its allegations against the vice president, relying instead on conjecture and misrepresented public remarks.

The accusation surfaced as the defense readies its counter-arguments ahead of the Senate impeachment trial's resumption on Monday, November 9. Panelo's statement signals the defense team's strategy to challenge the prosecution's evidence and testimonies presented thus far in the proceedings.

The impeachment trial, which has drawn significant public attention, centers on charges brought against Duterte by a House panel. The defense has maintained that the prosecution has failed to meet the threshold required to sustain the charges in a Senate conviction.

With the trial set to enter a critical phase, the defense's opening arguments are expected to directly address the prosecution's case point by point. Legal observers anticipate the coming days will determine the trajectory of the high-profile proceedings.

The Senate has scheduled the defense presentation to begin when impeachment trial sessions resume next week.