House prosecutors maintain that impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte remain focused on alleged grave threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Despite ongoing defense challenges regarding documentary evidence, the prosecution asserts that the core allegations regarding Duterte’s November 23, 2024, statements remain unchanged.
Prosecution response to defense cross-examination
House prosecutor Rep. Terry L. Ridon stated on Tuesday that the defense’s focus on documentary discrepancies has not weakened the prosecution’s case. During the cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director Jeremy Lontoc, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan scrutinized Department of Justice (DOJ) documents. According to Ridon, these tactical choices by the defense do not address the substance of the accusations.
“Even if they had raised document discrepancies on cross, it did not diminish the threat itself,” Ridon said during a press conference. He emphasized that the prosecution’s theory rests on the content of the vice president’s videotaped media conference, which serves as the primary basis for the fourth article of impeachment. The article charges Duterte with betrayal of public trust and making grave threats, specifically citing her remarks that she had instructed someone to kill the president, the first lady, and the former speaker if she were to be killed.
Significance of the impeachment proceedings
The current phase of the trial involves the testimony of Jeremy Lontoc, the second witness presented by the prosecution. However, Ridon characterized these efforts as “nitpicking,” maintaining that the underlying fact—the alleged threat itself—remains the central issue for the House prosecution.
Next steps in the impeachment trial
The cross-examination of Lontoc is expected to conclude on Tuesday. Following the conclusion of the defense’s questioning, the prosecution plans to conduct a redirect examination of the NBI official. Once the redirect is complete, Lontoc is expected to be excused from the witness stand. The trial’s progression will likely continue to center on the validity and interpretation of the November 23, 2024, video as the prosecution seeks to substantiate its claims of betrayal of public trust.
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