Duterte-Era Arrests Set Standard for Sara Duterte Trial

Prosecutors Say Duterte-Era Arrests Set the Standard for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Standard Set by 2020 Arrests of Four Citizens

House private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan pointed to four specific arrests made in 2020 under the Duterte administration. Public school teacher Ronnel Mas of Zambales faced charges of incitement to sedition after posting on Twitter that he would give P50 million to anyone who could kill then President Rodrigo Duterte. Joemarc Ebcay of Ozamiz received sedition charges under the anti-cybercrime law for a Facebook comment offering P150 million for the same act. Construction worker Ronald Quiboyen in Aklan was arrested for a Facebook post promising P100 million, and Maria Catherine Ceron of Cebu was taken into custody for allegedly offering P75 million. These cases involved ordinary citizens with no private armies or hired assassins, yet authorities filed charges anyway.

Lorna Kapunan’s Direct Statements on ANC

Lorna Kapunan told ANC on Monday, July 13, that the treatment of those four individuals shows how seriously threats were handled even without capacity to carry them out. She stated, “Even if they did not have the capacity, even if these ordinary citizens did not have a private army or did not hire an assassin, even if they did not have the capability to offer several millions, it was still considered grave threats.” Kapunan added, “Kung ang ordinaryong tao eh sineseryoso ng agencies natin, exempted ba ang isang vice president or any public official?” Her comments framed the argument that public officials should face the same standard applied to the four citizens arrested in separate areas of the country.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on New Evidence at the Monday Briefing

House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers spoke at a press briefing earlier Monday ahead of the trial resumption. He said, “Hindi na ito yung unang ebidensyang inilatag. May bago tayong ebidensyang ilalatag sa pamamagitan ng statements nitong ating mga bagong witnesses.” Barbers confirmed that prosecutors expect new developments in the alleged grave threats case against Vice President Sara Duterte as they present their second witness on the fourth day of the impeachment trial.

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong Describes NBI Director Lotoc’s Expected Testimony

House prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong stated that NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc would discuss the results of the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the vice president’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez. Adiong noted that Lotoc’s testimony is expected to strengthen the statements made by the first witness, NBI agent John Mark Calilung, when Lotoc appears before the Senate impeachment court on Monday afternoon, July 13.

Focus on Article IV Grave Threats Within the Four Articles of Impeachment

The alleged grave threats case falls under Article IV of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. The remaining articles cover graft and corruption, unexplained wealth, and misuse of confidential funds. Prosecutors are using the 2020 arrests to argue that the same legal standard applied to the four citizens should now apply to the vice president in the Article IV proceedings.

The 11-Day Schedule for the Grave Threats Portion of the Trial

The trial on the alleged grave threats is expected to run for 11 days out of the 92 trial days set by the Senate impeachment court. A guilty vote on any one article, including Article IV, would be enough to convict and remove the vice president from office if supported by at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate impeachment court. House prosecutors said they will continue presenting evidence through additional witnesses in the coming days of this segment.

How the Second Witness Builds on the First in the Impeachment Proceedings

Prosecutors stated that NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc’s testimony will add to the foundation laid by NBI agent John Mark Calilung. The sequence of witnesses is intended to present updated findings from the NBI probe directly to the Senate impeachment court. This approach follows the earlier statements from Rep. Barbers that new evidence will be introduced through the statements of the new witnesses on the fourth day and beyond.