THE SCOLDING by the Senate Impeachment Court may have compelled the House prosecution panel to drop the idea of conducting a redirect examination to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag.
During the trial, impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero called out Matibag for “making a ruling on his behalf.”
Matibag said that the accused, Vice President Sara Duterte, “consummated betrayal of public trust.”
“The betrayal of public trust was already consummated when she publicly admitted — there is already an admission — that she contracted a killer, mamamatay-tao or assassin to kill the president,” Matibag was quoted as saying on Day nine of the impeachment trial.
“That itself is an admission…Why? Because the oath of the Office of the Vice President, sabi nya she will execute the law and do justice to every man. So kapag nagbalak kang pumatay at ginawa mo yan that is no justice to every man. It’s not execute the law but execute the president ang gusto mong gawin dyan,” he added.
Then the impeachment court presiding officer butted in and told Matibag to refrain from premediating on his behalf.
“The Presiding Officer would like to remind the witness to kindly avoid making a ruling for and on behalf of the Presiding Officer,” Escudero said while trying to hold back his laughter.
“I’m sorry, your Honor,” Matibag said.
Meanwhile, the impeachment prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa hinted at the idea of further questioning Matibag.
A redirect examination is a phase in a trial where a lawyer can again question their own witness following cross-examination by the opposing side, and it provides an opportunity to clarify any testimony weakened or muddled by counsel for the opposing party.
