House Prosecution Member and Representative Terry Ridon asserted that the defense camp no longer has room to employ any delaying tactics in the VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial.
Ridon said the schedule released by the Impeachment Court effectively serves as a formal deadline, requiring the defense team to manage its time efficiently in presenting evidence to counter the prosecution’s case.
The court earlier released the hearing schedule for the entire month through an advisory dated October 13.
According to an official document from the Impeachment Court, the defense panel has already submitted a list of 25 witnesses it intends to present during the proceedings.
However, political and constitutional law professor Ralph Sarmiento had earlier withdrawn from serving as the first witness for the defense.
Prior to this development, House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin expressed her belief that Duterte’s camp was employing a “3D tactic,” which she described as a strategy of “Delay, Delay, and Divert” in the case.
Officials expect such strategies to be avoided to prevent hindering the Impeachment Court from issuing a fair and timely decision.