Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate impeachment court rebukes prosecution for wasting time with procedural sparring
The Senate impeachment court criticized prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. for engaging in time-consuming exchanges with defense lawyers during questioning of a key witness in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday expressed displeasure with prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. for what it characterized as "intramurals" with the defense, citing concerns about wasted time during witness examination.
Tolosa came under scrutiny after opening his cross-examination of former Education Undersecretary Michael Poa by questioning whether the witness was a competent lawyer—a line of inquiry that prompted the court's intervention.
The rebuke underscores ongoing tensions between the prosecution and defense teams in Vice President Duterte's impeachment proceedings, as the court seeks to maintain procedural efficiency and focus. The incident highlights the delicate balance the Senate must strike between allowing adequate space for adversarial examination while preventing delays that could prolong the high-profile trial.
The trial, which has drawn significant national attention, continues as the court hears testimony from witnesses and examines evidence related to the charges against the Vice President.