House prosecutors urge Senate to hold Duterte accountable on sub judice rule

MANILA — House prosecutors escalated their challenge to the Senate impeachment court on Thursday, demanding that Vice President Sara Duterte be held to the same standards as other parties under the court's sub judice rule. The prosecutors objected to recent remarks by the Vice President in which she questioned her confidence in the court and alleged that senator-judges were being unduly influenced by Malacañang officials. The sub judice rule prohibits parties and their representatives from making public statements that could prejudice ongoing court proceedings. House prosecutors argued that the Vice President's comments, if left unchallenged, would set a problematic precedent for the impeachment trial. They contended that consistency in applying judicial conduct standards was essential to maintaining the court's credibility and ensuring a fair proceeding. The Senate impeachment court has been deliberating standards for public statements by involved parties throughout the high-stakes proceedings. The Vice President's office has not yet responded to the prosecutors' latest call for accountability regarding her public statements about the impeachment court.