Defense, prosec in impeachment trial clash anew over term ‘mini trial’

Defense team counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan (rightmost) (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.net) MANILA, Philippines — The defense and prosecution teams on Wednesday clashed over the use of the term “mini trial” during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate. Defense counsel Mark Vinluan was continuing his cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag when House Lead Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro registered a continuing objection to the defense’s use of the term “mini trial” in one of the questions. “It was never a mini trial. It was a clarificatory hearing,” Luistro clarified. Article continues after this advertisement “With all due respect, isn’t it Rep. Luistro who termed such proceedings as a mini trial? We just want to inquire of Rep. Luistro,” Vinluan said. “May I respond, Your Honor?” Luistro requested the presiding officer. “The lead prosecutor may respond. Thereafter, we shall continue. Yes. What is your response, counsel?” Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero asked. Luistro explained that what they did at the House committee on justice was “a clarificatory hearing consistent with the House rules on impeachment, and even consistent with the provisions of Article 11 of the Constitution.” The exchange began when Vinluan asked Matibag, “Director Matibag, in relation to Article IV of these Articles of Impeachment, you were likewise subpoenaed by the House Committee on Justice to attend its mini trial, correct?” Article continues after this advertisement Matibag immediately answered, “Yes, sir.” Vinluan was starting to ask his next question when Luistro raised her first objection. Article continues after this advertisement The defense then said the question had been “asked and answered,” which Escudero echoed, rendering Luistro’s objection moot. Vinluan then asked Matibag about the dates of his appearance before the House Committee on Justice and when he issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 11. He next asked, “So, AO 11 was issued only, say, 13 days prior to your appearance before the mini trial?” to which Matibag agreed, saying it was about 12 or 13 days. Vinluan was about to continue his questioning when Luistro interjected. “Your Honor,” Luistro said. “I have no question yet,” Vinluan replied. “Yes, Your Honor. But I just want to enter a continuing objection to the use of ‘mini trial,’” Luistro then said. In March, the Duterte camp said that it snubbed the House Committee on Justice hearing over its chairman’s use of the term. The group claimed that the House panel was overstepping constitutional boundaries by calling “mini-trial” a procedure meant only as a preliminary inquiry. The congresswoman also previously explained that the use of the term “mini-trial” to refer to the “hearing proper” of impeachment complaints against Duterte by the House justice panel was only “to make it better understandable on the part of the viewing public.” Luistro is chairperson of the House committee. /apl Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.