An actual written contract is not needed to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte arranged for the killing of top government officials, House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep. Ysabel Zamora argued as the first week of the impeachment trial closed.
The point was raised after the defense panel insisted the prosecution holds “no other competent evidence” to back the fourth impeachment article, which alleges Duterte “contracted to assassinate the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker.”
“I’m sure wala pang nakagawa na may written contract relating to the hiring of an assassin… Contract or no contract, it is our position that her utterances made on November 23, 2024 constitute impeachable offenses of betrayal of public trust, high crimes, and culpable violation of the Constitution,” Zamora said in an ABS-CBN News report.
House Impeachment Adviser and Spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers echoed the argument. “Wala pa akong nakitang nangyaring ganoon na ang isang kriminal ay may kontrata,” he said.
The article rests in part on remarks the Vice President delivered during an online press conference: “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke.”
Those November 2024 statements were the subject of an inquiry by National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, the prosecution’s opening witness. Barbers said the defense team’s attempt to discredit him fell short, which is why no re-direct examination was pursued.
“Hindi po natibag o hindi nabutasan ang testimonyang inilatag ng ating witness. Isa pang pruweba na ito ay nagsasabi ng katotohanan, because he was very consistent with all his statements from the beginning. Even during the cross examination, nakita natin na he was firm, at tinayuan niya yung kanyang mga binitawang pahayag o testimonya during the first day he was presented as witness for the prosecution,” Barbers said.
Zamora offered a similar assessment of the cross-examination. “Gusto nilang kwestyunin ang credibility at ‘yung training ng ating witness. Wala namang naipakita ang depensa na… matitibag ang statements na ginawa ni John Mark Calilung kahapon sa kanyang direct examination. Narinig din natin ang mga tanong ng senator-judges at lahat naman ng kanilang katanungan ay nasagot ni John Mark Calilung, from questions regarding his training, the investigation he conducted, and the threats, which he investigated. In fact, ang last statement ni Agent Calilung ay ‘yung threats ay ‘absolute,'” she said.
Video excerpts introduced by the defense drew scrutiny from the bench. The clips captured Duterte’s Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez in tears during a Zoom call streamed on November 23, 2024, at a point when a House panel probing the alleged misuse of confidential funds had cited her in contempt and ordered her detained.
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros pressed Defense Lawyer Carlo Narvasa on why the panel presented a portion in which Lopez said her life was in danger.
“Sinasabi ba ng depensa na yung mga alleged threats o incitements ni VP Duterte ay prompted nung detention ni Atty. Lopez?”
Narvasa said yes, contending that “there was a systematic oppression made by the House of Representatives.” Asked whether the defense therefore considered the alleged grave threats justified when a legitimate reason existed, he replied: “That is not the point.”
For Barbers, the footage strengthened the prosecution’s pending request for the impeachment court to summon Lopez as a witness.
He also called for an inquiry into the supposed “Oplan Romanov” said to target the Vice President, saying nothing has substantiated it so far. “Wala namang basehan… This is a serious story that needs to be investigated din. Unfortunately hindi naman nagko-cooperate ‘yung nagsasabi ng ganyang klaseng plano,” he said.
