Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution lawyer argues impeachment trial shouldn't limit outside professional roles
A prosecution counsel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has asserted that Senate proceedings should not prevent lawyers from maintaining their professional activities outside the courtroom, including teaching positions.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Amando Virgil Ligutan, one of the prosecution counsels in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, has argued that the Senate Impeachment Court proceedings should not restrict lawyers from exercising their professional roles beyond the courtroom, such as teaching appointments.
Ligutan raised the point during the 19th day of trial proceedings, emphasizing that participation in the high-profile case should not compel legal practitioners to relinquish other legitimate professional obligations or positions they hold.
The statement comes as the impeachment trial continues its examination of charges against the Vice President. The counsel's intervention highlights ongoing questions about the scope of restrictions and obligations imposed on legal representatives during lengthy impeachment proceedings.
The assertion appears to counter positions taken by other parties in the trial, with Senator Juan Edgardo Escudero apparently taking a differing view on the matter, though details of his specific stance were not immediately clear.
The trial has now entered its third week of proceedings, with various legal and procedural matters continuing to be addressed as both prosecution and defense present their cases before the Senate Impeachment Court.