Padilla to prosecutors: Don’t be ‘one-sided.’ Um, isn’t that the job?

SENATOR. Senator-judge Robin Padilla questions NBI Director Melvin Matibag during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 22, 2026. Senate Social Media Unit 'Siguro mas nakakapagtaka kapag naging neutral ang prosecution. At siguro mas nakakapagtaka kung ide-defend namin 'yung respondent,' says House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro In an impeachment trial, where the House panel’s job is to prosecute, Senator Robin Padilla urged the prosecutors not to be “one-sided.” The remark drew immediate murmurs from the House prosecution panel, a team of lawyers. Some exchanged puzzled looks, briefly interrupting Padilla’s questioning. Senate staff quickly raised “Silence Please” signs. The reaction became loud enough that impeachment court presiding officer Chiz Escudero called for order. Moments earlier, Padilla had questioned House prosecutor Gerville Luistro about the credibility of Arturo Lascañas. He said that Lascañas’ affidavit was “tainted by lies” because of his contradictory statements. Lascañas’ affidavit was cited by Luistro during the examination of the witness. This document, however, is not part of the evidence of the House prosecutors. Padilla noted that Lascañas had cleared former president Rodrigo Duterte of any wrongdoing in an October 3, 2016 statement, but later changed his account in affidavits dated February 20 and March 6. “Ano ang tawag sa taong paiba-iba ang sinasabi? Di ba po sinungaling?” (What do you call someone who keeps changing his story? Isn’t he a liar?) Luistro attempted to explain that the Lascañas document was cited only to show how the National Bureau of Investigation handled its probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Escudero, however, instructed her to answer the question directly. “Without particular reference to Arturo Lascañas, I agree with you, Presiding Officer,” Luistro replied when asked whether someone who repeatedly changes their story should be considered an unreliable witness. What’s the exact role of prosecution? Asked later about Padilla’s remark, Luistro gave a lawyer’s answer. “With all due respect to senator-judge Padilla, apparently this impeachment trial is adversarial,” Lusitro said. “Siguro mas nakakapagtaka kapag naging neutral ang prosecution. At siguro mas nakakapagtaka kung ide-defend namin ‘yung respondent,” Luistro said. (It would be more surprising if the prosecution were neutral. It would be even more surprising if we were defending the respondent.) House private prosecutor Katrina Legarda Kapunan joked that Luistro’s response had been the diplomatic version. “If it were me,” Kapunan quipped, “maginoo pero medyo bastos.” (I’d be polite, but a little rude.) Still, Kapunan stressed there was no intention to disrespect Padilla. “It was an instinctive reaction,” she said, explaining that the prosecutors were caught off guard by the suggestion. She even found some humor in the moment. “We’re always appreciative that Senator Robin always brings color and surprise and excitement. Especially because he was the last one to manifest — kanina talaga nagising kaming lahat at pinagalitan pa kami sa front row,” Kapunan said. (Padilla really woke all of us up this afternoon — and we in the front row even got scolded.) In the end, Kapunan returned to what she saw as the obvious point. “The prosecution is really for the prosecution, and the defense is for the defense,” she said. “It is the nature of the beast.” Well, to prevent further reactions, Kapunan said she just bowed her head and prayed. KAPUNAN. House prosecutor Lorna Kapunan bows her head during a press conference on July 22, 2026, reenacting her reaction after Senator-judge Robin Padilla called out the House prosecution panel. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading