Padilla to prosecutors: Your job is not to win, but to pursue the truth

Sen. Robin Padilla listens as National Bureau of Investigation chief Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand during the continuation of his cross-examination on Day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on July 22, 2026. — Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta/INQUIRER MANILA, Philippines — After telling the prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte not to be one-sided, Sen. Robin Padilla now reminded them of their duty to ferret out the truth, and not to win their case. Padilla specifically addressed lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro in a Facebook post early Thursday morning. “Dear Ms. Luistro, Justice is impartial!” the senator started. Article continues after this advertisement “The role of the prosecution is not to win, but to pursue the truth and protect the innocent. The role of the defense, on the other hand, is to safeguard human rights and ensure a balance of power,” he further said. Padilla reminded both the prosecution and defense teams that they have one goal, and that is to serve justice, which is “completely neutral, blind to political alliances and deaf to the whispers of power.” “Because he moment it takes sides, it ceases to be justice and becomes nothing more than an instrument of oppression,” he said. His statement was an apparent response to Luistro’s remark that it would be surprising if the prosecution would be neutral, “and even more confusing if we defend the respondent.” READ: Padilla told: Prosec’s task is push case, be shocked if we defend the VP Article continues after this advertisement At a press briefing on Wednesday, Luistro explained the role of the prosecution team following Padilla’s statement during the trial that he hopes they would not be one-sided. READ: Luistro tells Padilla: Conviction is not a ground to disqualify witness Article continues after this advertisement “Well, with all due respect to Senator-judge Robin Padilla, apparently this impeachment trial is adversarial — it is clearly why there is a prosecution; it is (for us) to establish the case. That’s why there is a defense panel, to defend the innocence of the respondent. So it is very much anticipated that the prosecution is biased towards presenting the case, presenting the evidence,” she said. /das Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.