Garin: VP camp resorting to delaying, diversionary tactics in impeach trial

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution’s decision to withdraw three of the four impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte was partly driven by concerns that the defense would prolong the proceedings by presenting an extensive lineup of witnesses.

House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin said Duterte’s defense lawyers seems pursuing procedural delays that could prevent the Senate impeachment court from reaching a timely decision on the allegations. “Napakalinaw po na yung direksyon ng depensa ay to delay, delay, and divert,” Garin said. In an interview with Marinduque News, Garin defended the prosecution’s decision on Oct. 13 to withdraw Articles I, III and IV, maintaining that the decision was intended to concentrate the proceedings on the unexplained wealth charge rather than allow prolonged litigation over multiple allegations.

“Kaya rason na gumalaw din yung prosekusyon, kasi hindi naman pwedeng manaig ang taktika ng pagpapatagal at pagpapatagal, dahil ang usapin dito ay accountability o sagutin ang mga katanungan,” Garin explained.

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The defense maintained that the withdrawal prevented it from formally answering charges that had already been aired publicly.

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However, the prosecution pointed out that in July, it proposed an alternating presentation of evidence, under which the defense would answer each impeachment article immediately after prosecutors completed presenting their evidence on that charge. The defense rejected the arrangement, with lawyer Michael Poa previously arguing that the prosecution must first present its complete case and establish which evidence had been admitted before Duterte could be required to respond. “Alam mo, the defense has nobody to blame but themselves,” Garin maintained, rejecting complaints that the withdrawal deprived the vice president of the opportunity to answer allegations already discussed in court. “Kasi unang-una pa lang, paulit ulit nang sinasabi ng prosekusyon, gawin nating alternate, grave threat, then sasagutin ng depensa,” Garin recalled. “Ah, confidential funds, then sasagutin ng depensa. Subalit sila yung umayaw,” Garin added, referring to the defense’s refusal to adopt the proposed article-by-article sequence.

“Kaya nga yung sinabi nilang, unang-una pa lang, 90 na yung kanilang witnesses doon pa lang sa grave threat,” Garin disclosed, citing a figure that has not been independently established as the final number of witnesses the defense would actually present.

Garin also pointed out that the defense was able to extensively cross-examine the witnesses presented by the prosecution.

“Pero kung titingnan naman natin, they were able to cross-examine the witnesses at hindi tinutumbok nang diretso ang mga alegasyon, kundi ito ay nililihis,” Garin argued. The Senate impeachment court eventually approved the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles.

The defense will start presenting its evidence on Article II involving alleged unexplained wealth starting Nov. 9.