Politics · Philippines Bureau
House prosecutor calls VP Duterte rebuttal proposal wasteful
The House private prosecutor has rejected a proposal allowing Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team to rebut three withdrawn impeachment articles, characterizing the move as an inefficient use of court resources.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Benjamin Tolosa Jr., the House private prosecutor and chief legal spokesperson in the impeachment proceedings, has dismissed a proposal to grant Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team a limited rebuttal opportunity on three impeachment articles that have already been withdrawn from consideration.
Tolosa characterized allowing such a rebuttal as "a complete waste of time and resources of the court and everyone involved," according to statements made during ongoing impeachment hearings.
The three articles in question had been formally withdrawn from the impeachment case against the Vice President, raising questions about the procedural necessity of permitting a defense response to charges that are no longer part of the active proceedings.
The House prosecutor's position underscores the debate within the impeachment process over procedural matters and the allocation of time during hearings that have drawn significant public and legislative attention in recent weeks.
No immediate response from the Vice President's legal team was available regarding Tolosa's objections to the proposed rebuttal.