Defense yet to respond on the lifting of sub judice rule in Sara Duterte impeachment trial -- Win Gatchalian

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The Senate impeachment court has yet to receive a response from the defense panel concerning the lifting of the sub judice rule in three Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte that was withdrawn by the prosecution, Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

"Wala pang nakukuhang feedback so tuloy tuloy naman iyan. Anytime pwede sila magbigay ng feedback. Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala pang feedback," Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We have yet to receive feedback so it will continue. They can give feedback anytime. As far as I know, there's no feedback yet.)

The lawmaker also confirmed that the prosecution has filed a formal offer of evidence and is just waiting for the defense's answer.

The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday lifted the imposition of Rule 18, or the sub judice rule, on Articles 1, 3, and 4 leveled against Duterte after it allowed the move of the prosecution panel to withdraw them.

Of the three Articles of Impeachment, the prosecution was able to present evidence on Articles 1 and 4.

Article 1 tackles alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article 3 was about the alleged bribery of Department of Education officials during Duterte’s tenure as Education secretary, and Article 4 focused on the threats Duterte allegedly made against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Earlier, Senator Francis Escudero, the Impeachment court presiding officer, said the freedom to discuss the allegations in the withdrawn articles does not authorize the unrestricted disclosure or dissemination of the evidence presented in connection with them. —RF, GMA News