Prosecution lawyer denies attempt to sway impeachment court against VP Duterte

MANILA — Benjamin Tolosa Jr., counsel for the prosecution team, moved to clarify statements he made during media interviews, insisting they were not designed to influence the Senate Impeachment Court's decision on Vice President Sara Duterte's case.

Tolosa argued that isolated excerpts from his remarks could be misleading without full context. He urged that complete recordings or transcripts of his media appearances be reviewed to accurately reflect his intended message.

The clarification comes as the impeachment trial continues in the Senate, where justices are weighing charges against the Vice President. The defense has been closely monitoring public statements from prosecution counsel, raising concerns about potential attempts to prejudge the case outside the courtroom.

Impeachment trials in the Philippines have historically attracted significant media attention, with lawyers on both sides making statements to the press throughout proceedings. The Senate Impeachment Court has jurisdiction over the case and is responsible for determining guilt or innocence based on evidence presented during official sessions.

The prosecution's legal team has maintained its focus on presenting evidence to the court, though Tolosa's clarification underscores the sensitivity surrounding any public commentary that could be perceived as prejudicial to the trial's outcome.