Prosecution: ‘Defense succeeded in stopping trial’

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution team said on Tuesday that it was “a sad day because technicalities have triumphed over the merits of the case.”

Marikina City Representative Romero Quimbo, spokesman for the prosecution, said that the defense “succeeded in stopping the trial” because they filed their memorandum before the formal offer of evidence.

At the start of the session, lead defense prosecutor Serafin Cuevas explained their memorandum on rules and procedures in the presentation of evidence, resulting in arguments between both sides.

“It was an urgent motion,” Quimbo said. There was originally no deadline as to the submission of memorandum, he said.

“We had seven witnesses ready to testify [and] we have another four to testify tomorrow [Wednesday],” said Quimbo.

Quimbo said that the “flexibility” lead prosecutor Neil Tupas was asking for was in the context of the case, which was being treated by Cuevas as a criminal case. All the objections of Cuevas were as if the proceedings were a criminal case, he said.

“We don’t want the proceedings to be run like a criminal case. This is a purely administrative case,” Quimbo said. The same punishment that can be given to the Chief Justice, removal from office and permanent disqualification from public office, were the same punishments that could be given to “a janitor in the Philippine Postal Office,” he said.

Aurora representative Juan Edgardo Angara said that they were asking only for “substantial evidence,” which meant convincing evidence of a person’s guilt, instead of “proof beyond reasonable doubt,” which is what is used in a criminal court.

Quezon Representative Lorenzo R.Tañada III said that “the court should just accept the evidence and then [let the Senator-judges] decide.”

He said that they expected the defense to bring up the same technicalities in all the articles of the impeachment.

Quimbo said that “the defense will put every road block to prevent” evidence and witnesses from being presented.

The prosecution was ordered by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to submit their memorandum Wednesday.