VP trial: Defense yet to respond on lifted sub judice rule in withdrawn impeachment articles

The defense panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has yet to comment on the Senate’s decision to lift the sub judice rule on three withdrawn Articles of Impeachment, Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

Gatchalian noted that while the impeachment court has not received feedback from the defense, the panel remains welcome to submit its response.

"Wala pang nakukuhang feedback so tuloy-tuloy naman iyan. Anytime pwede sila magbigay ng feedback (We haven't received feedback yet, but the process continues. They can submit feedback anytime)," Gatchalian said in an interview.

The senator-judge also confirmed that the prosecution has submitted its formal offer of evidence and is currently awaiting the defense’s response.

On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment court lifted the restriction under Rule 18—the sub judice rule—on Articles 1, 3, and 4 after granting the prosecution’s request to withdraw them.

Prior to their withdrawal, the prosecution had already presented evidence on Articles 1 and 4. Article 1 involves the alleged misuse of confidential funds, while Article 4 centers on alleged threats made by Duterte against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Article 3, on the other hand, involves the alleged bribery of Department of Education officials during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Francis Escudero, presiding officer of the impeachment court, clarified that while lifting the rule permits public discussion of the allegations in the withdrawn articles, it does not allow the unrestricted disclosure or dissemination of evidence previously presented. -Paraluman News