MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte said the numerous objections it raised during the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent John Mark Calilung were a natural part of witness examination, according to its spokesman.
Calilung was the first witness of the prosecution in the betrayal of public trust article regarding the grave threats Duterte issued against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former speaker Martin Romualdez.
Speaking to reporters after Tuesday's hearing, Poa said that in litigation, particularly during witness testimony, it is common for the defense to raise objections, especially when it believes questions are leading.
"When you are conducting a direct examination, you cannot lead the witness. That means you cannot ask questions that can simply be answered with a 'yes' or 'no,' because you would essentially be supplying the answer and merely asking the witness to confirm it. It is only natural for objections to be raised," Poa said.
He declined to comment on the prosecution's claim that it had "won" the day's hearing because the impeachment court sustained several of its objections.
"We don't really count wins or losses on a day-to-day basis. For the defense, we don't view it that way because it is still too early in the proceedings," Poa said.
Meanwhile, Poa also dismissed reports that lead defense counsel Shiela Sison had "walked out" of the proceedings, as suggested by private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan during Calilung's direct examination.
According to Poa, Sison had simply stepped out to use the restroom and returned immediately after she was called.
"When she heard that it was being said she had walked out, she came back and said, 'I am still here. I just went to the toilet,'" Poa said