MANILA, Philippines – Inilarawan ni Lead prosecutor at Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro nitong Miyerkules, Nobyembre 11, ang manifestation ng depensa na lumabag ang miyembro ng prosekusyon sa sub judice rule ng impeachment court sa paglilitis ni Vice President Sara Duterte, bilang isang “diversionary tactic.”
Nitong Martes, naghain kasi si lead defense counsel Sheila Sison ng manifestation na sumisita sa private prosecutors, partikular si Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr., sa umano’y paglabag sa sub judice rule.
“It seems like a diversionary tactic because the witnesses of the defense are not doing so well. How many times have they been highlighted by the senator-judges themselves, and then, in the midst of all this, there is a manifestation of sub judice?” sinabi ni Luistro sa panayam sa Senado.
Aniya, nagiging maingat ang prosekusyon kasunod sa paglalabas ng show-cause orders sa dalawa sa mga miyembro nito sa kaparehong paglabag.
Dagdag pa ni Luistro, nagulat umano sila sa manipestasyon ni Sison dahil hindi naman nila nakita ang mga pahayag ni Tolosa bilang paglabag sa sub judice rule.
“The prosecution is very careful. In fact, we were a little surprised by the defense’s manifestation yesterday about Atty. Jay Tolosa because we were together during the press [conference]… We did not observe any pronouncement that constitutes a violation of sub judice,” sinabi ni Luistro.
“If at all there are violations, what we can identify are people from the other camp. And the team is discussing right now what action to take in response to the manifestation they made pertaining to Atty. Jay Tolosa,” dagdag pa niya.
“Chair Luistro has the right to raise whatever opinion she has, but we raised it not as a diversionary tactic, but to protect the rights of our client, the vice president,” giit naman ni defense counsel at spokesperson Michael Poa sa pagsasabing ang manifestation ay ginawa para protektahan ang karapatan ni Duterte. RNT/JGC
