The House prosecution panel said the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte should remain focused on the evidence presented rather than clerical errors and document discrepancies raised by the defense.
House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said typographical mistakes and other clerical errors should not be used to distract from the substance of the testimony given by former National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division Chief Atty. Jeremy Lotoc during the impeachment trial.
According to Adiong, the public witnessed an attempt to shift attention from the contents of Lotoc’s testimony to technical issues involving documents.
He said the discussion should instead focus on evaluating the evidence, or the prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction, which served as the basis for recommending the filing of three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against Duterte.
Adiong acknowledged that questioning documents presented before the court is part of due process and that all allegations should be heard and examined by the impeachment court.
However, he maintained that the substance of Lotoc’s testimony did not change because of alleged typographical or clerical errors found in supporting documents.
He also said government agencies should ensure the accuracy of official records during their preparation, but stressed that not every discrepancy carries legal significance.
According to Adiong, accurate paperwork is important, but documentary errors should not be equated with evidence such as recordings, sworn testimonies and official findings presented under oath.
He added that those forms of evidence should be treated separately from clerical mistakes in documents.
Adiong said the impeachment proceedings should remain centered on the constitutional issues raised in the Articles of Impeachment instead of matters that do not affect the substance of the evidence presented before the impeachment court.
