MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel on Friday said the burden of rebutting the impeachment article accusing Vice President Sara Duterte of making grave threats has shifted to the defense after it concluded presenting its evidence before the Senate impeachment court.
House prosecutors’ spokesperson Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the panel had established its case by presenting authenticated recordings of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 statements, the National Bureau of Investigation’s forensic examination, and testimony on the bureau’s investigation into the alleged threats.
Former Surigao del Norte representative Robert Ace Barbers, adviser and spokesperson for the House prosecution, said the burden of evidence now rests with the defense panel, which must counter the prosecution’s evidence.
“The burden of evidence has now shifted because we have already laid down the evidence. Now the defense panel must answer, counter, or rebut the evidence presented by the prosecution,” Barbers said.
Tolosa said the defense can no longer rely on simple denials and must instead answer the authenticated recordings, forensic findings, official investigation, and national security assessment already on record.
The prosecution rested its case on the grave threats article on Wednesday after presenting NBI Director Melvin Matibag as its third and final witness, following the testimonies of NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc.
