Impeachment court admonishes prosecution’s Tolosa over press briefing remarks

Private prosecutor Jay Tolosa questions hostile witness, Atty. Michael Poa, during Day 21 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on September 2, 2026.

Senate Social Media Unit

Tolosa says he disagrees, but will respect the impeachment court's decision

AT A GLANCE

• Prosecution spokesman Jay Tolosa was admonished by the impeachment court for public comments that may have violated the sub judice rule during Vice President Sara Duterte's trial.
• Tolosa disagreed with the admonition, asserting that his comments were procedural and did not violate the rule, but he acknowledged the court's authority and pledged to be more cautious in the future.
• The court's admonition implies that further violations could lead to a fine, and Tolosa is the only spokesperson among the prosecution team bound by the sub judice rule.

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MANILA, Philippines – Prosecution panel spokesman Jay Tolosa said on Tuesday, September 29, that the impeachment court in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial has admonished him over public comments that were previously flagged for potential violation of its sub judice rule.

Tolosa said the ruling did not explicitly say that the admonition was tantamount to a first offense, but if it were, a subsequent violation by Tolosa would result in a P30,000 fine.

“I respectfully disagree with the admonition. There is no finding that I violated the rule. While I respectfully disagree, I respect the authority of the impeachment court as an institution, and with that, I will not belabor the point and I will, of course, respect that admonition and be even more careful in giving statements moving forward,” Tolosa said in a press conference.

The decision came after the court compelled Tolosa to explain his remarks made during a September 8 press conference. There, he said, the prosecution’s evidentiary targets have been met, that it was clear to the Commission on Audit that Duterte’s offices violated rules on confidential spending, and that the vice president cannot say she will not take the witness stand and invoke her right against self-incrimination.

The court’s sub judice rule bars parties from making comments in public pertaining to the merits of the trial.

Tolosa, in his reply to the show-cause order issued to him, asserted that his comments made to the media were procedural matters outside the sub judice rule of the impeachment court, and were just accurate reiterations of matters already placed on record.

Tolosa is among the four spokespersons of the prosecution team, but is the only one who is bound by the sub judice rule.

Tolosa is a seasoned litigator. The UST alumnus represented American soldier Joseph Pemberton, who was convicted of homicide in the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude in October 2014, and also counseled Philippine Airlines and the local affiliate of Fortune 500 company Philip Morris International. – Rappler.com