Romer Butuyan 
SO far, so good,” ang paglalarawan ni House Lead Prosecutor at Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro sa unang araw ng Senate impeachment trial na naglalayong pairalin ang constitutional accountability process.
“So finally, in our impeachment trial, we would like to express our commendation, of course, to the impeachment court for responding to the mandate of the Constitution,” bungad ni Luistro sa isang press conference matapos ang Day 1 ng paglilitis kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
“This is a win for the Filipino people because the accountability mechanism is happening, the Constitution is being followed,” dugtong ng lead prosecutor.
Kapwa nagbigay ng opening statements ang prosekusyon at depensa sa unang araw ng paglilitis. Naresolba rin ng impeachment court ang ilang isyung lumutang sa ginanap na pre-trial conference.
“So now, in the opening statement, the prosecution and the defense also addressed concerns during the pre-trial conference. Finally, we will be starting the presentation of evidence,” paglalahad pa niya.
Ani Luistro, kinatigan ng impeachment court ang mungkahi ng prosekusyon na pagkakasunod ng bawat Articles of Impeachment na ipiprisinta sa pagdinig
“We will be starting the presentation of evidence for the first article to be presented and the first, that is the threat,” anang Batangas lady lawmaker.
Sa pagbubukas ng paglilitis, ipinabatid ni House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno kay Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero ang pagkakasunod-sunod sa presentasyon ng apat na Articles of Impeachment.
“The first article we will be presenting will be article four on grave threats, Article I on confidential funds would follow, then Article III on bribery, and finally Article II on unexplained wealth,” pahayag ni Diokno.
“So the sequence of presentations shall be article four, article one, article three, and then article two,” tugon naman ni Escudero.
“Yes, that is correct, Your Honor,” bweltang sagot ng neophyte partylist solon.
