Luistro: Sub judice manifestation vs Tolosa a ‘diversionary tactic’

MANILA, Philippines — Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro on Wednesday characterized as a “diversionary tactic” the defense’s manifestation claiming that a member of the prosecution had violated the impeachment court’s sub judice rule in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial.

On Tuesday, lead defense counsel Sheila Sison filed a manifestation flagging private prosecutors, particularly Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr., for supposedly violating the sub judice rule.

“It seems like a diversionary tactic because the witnesses of the defense are not doing so well. How many times have they been highlighted by the senator-judges themselves, and then, in the midst of all this, there is a manifestation of sub judice?” Luistro said in an interview at the Senate.

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Luistro also said the prosecution panel had been careful following the issuance of show-cause orders to two of its members for the same violation.

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She added that they were surprised by Sison’s manifestation, as they themselves had not observed any pronouncement by Tolosa that violated the sub judice rule.

READ: Defense submits to court sub judice statements of prosecution

“The prosecution is very careful. In fact, we were a little surprised by the defense’s manifestation yesterday about Atty. Jay Tolosa because we were together during the press [conference]… We did not observe any pronouncement that constitutes a violation of sub judice,” Luistro said.

“If at all there are violations, what we can identify are people from the other camp. And the team is discussing right now what action to take in response to the manifestation they made pertaining to Atty. Jay Tolosa,” she added.

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Shortly after, defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa reiterated that the manifestation was made to protect Duterte’s rights.

“Chair Luistro has the right to raise whatever opinion she has, but we raised it not as a diversionary tactic, but to protect the rights of our client, the vice president,” Poa told the media. /mcm