Escudero has been ‘very fair’ in VP Duterte trial, says House prosecutor

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has been “very fair” so far in his capacity as presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court in the ongoing trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. House prosecutor Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor gave this assessment even as news reports on the trial Tuesday, July 7 highlighted the many “overruled” or rejected objections from Duterte’s defense team. “Maganda ang pagpapatakbo ni Senate presiding officer Chiz Escudero. It was very fair at nabigyan ng pagkakataong mailabas ang ebidensya sa tamang pamamaraan,” Defensor said. (Senate presiding officer Chiz Escudero handled the proceedings well. It was very fair and allowed the evidence to be presented properly.) To have a motion or objection “overruled” means that the presiding order, in this case Escudero, did not agree with the party. The opposite of this is to have a motion or objection “sustained”. The prosecution got its way so much Tuesday that Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong claimed “victory” as far as that day was concerned . “Mahusay ang first day of presentation of evidence dahil una, natuloy na ang trial at nasunod ang proseso sa tamang pamamaraan,” Defensor reiterated. (The first day of presentation of evidence was excellent because, first, the trial pushed through and the process was followed properly.) Tuesday marked the second day of Duterte’s trial and the first day of the prosecution team’s presentation of evidence.