Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pY-EPsgMXk0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla on Wednesday urged the prosecution not to be &quot;one-sided&quot; in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>Padilla remarked on the prosecution&#x27;s stance while debating with House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro on the qualification of the latter&#x27;s witnesses, including National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent Mark Calilung and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc.</p><p>&quot;Sana hindi one-sided ang ating prosecution (I wish the prosecution wasn&#x27;t one-sided),&quot; said the senator.</p><p>Impeachment court presiding officer Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero was forced to call for order at the crowd&#x27;s reaction to that.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoenas-duterte-bank-records-1730"><strong>Senate impeachment court grants subpoena for Duterte financial records</strong></a></div><p>Before Padilla made the statement, he had questioned Luistro on and former Duterte henchman Arturo Lascañas&#x27; credibility as a witness, saying his affidavit is &quot;tainted by lies&quot; because of his contradicting statements.</p><p>Lascañas is not a witness for the prosecution but a document he filed at the International Criminal Court was referenced at Tuesday&#x27;s hearing.</p><p>&quot;[Noong] Oct. 3, 2016, sinabi nya walang kinalaman ang Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte... February 20, March 6, naiba na ang istorya. Ang tanong ko po, ano ang tawag sa taong paiba-iba ang sinasabi? Di ba po sinungaling?&quot;</p><p>(On Oct. 3, 2016, he said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has nothing to do with extrajudicial killings. Then, February 20, March 6, his story changed. My question is, what do we call a person whose statements change? Don&#x27;t we call them a liar?)</p><p>Luistro tried to explain that the Lascañas document was only included to show how the National Bureau of Investigation conducted its investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but Escudero ordered the prosecutor to give a direct answer to the question.</p><p>&quot;Without particular reference to Arturo Lascañas, I agree with you, presiding officer,&quot; she said when Escudero asked whether someone like that would be considered an unreliable witness.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/padilla-challenges-fellow-senators-to-open-bank-records-1949"><strong>Padilla challenges fellow senators to open bank records </strong></a> </div><p>At this point, Padilla asked the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses like Lotoc and Calilung, who he said have pending cases of perjury.  </p><p>&quot;We take exception to the manifestation of Senator-Judge Robin Padilla. First of all, we were able to verify already there are no pending cases against the prosecution&#x27;s witnesses,&quot; Luistro said.</p><p>&quot;In addition you honor, and only to  respond to the question of Sen. Robin Padilla, ang conviction po ay hindi ground for disqualification unless it is final and unless it is punishable by more than one year and that the crime constitutes moral turpitude.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/matibag-told-avoid-statements-pertaining-to-members-of-impeachment-court-1607"><strong>Matibag told: ‘Avoid statements pertaining to members of impeachment court’</strong></a></div><p>This is where Padilla made the comment asking the prosecution side not to be one-sided.</p><p>The crowd did not seem to take the comment well, as murmurs filled the Senate hall.</p><p>Escudero hushed the crowd while Padilla did not hide his irritation.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po sila allowed mag ingay, korte po ito,&quot; said Padilla.</p><p>(They are not allowed to make noise. This is a court.)</p><p>Padilla later sought to clarify his statement, stressing that his &quot;one-sided&quot; remark referred to the general discussion of fairness about the impeachment proceedings. </p><p>He said that his concern stemmed from statements made by House Prosecutor Leila de Lima regarding the voting threshold in the trial, given the number of Senator-Judges who actually participated.</p><p>&quot;Kung ang isang witness ay hindi awtomatikong disqualified kahit may conviction, bakit ang mga Senator-Judge na may kaso ngunit hindi naman convicted ay pinag-uusapan na ang posibilidad na hindi sila makapag-participate at kalaunan ay hindi pa maisama sa functional base?&quot; said Padilla in a late Wednesday night statement.</p><p>&quot;Iyan ang punto ko nang sabihin kong huwag maging one-sided,&quot; he said. &quot;Hindi ito tungkol sa pagpabor sa witness o sa Senator-Judge. Ang hinihingi ko ay fairness.&quot;</p><p>Three senators are not participating in the impeachment trial. <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/vida-pnp-nbi-now-tasked-to-effect-arrest-of-dela-rosa-1242">Senator Ronald dela Rosa</a> remains in hiding after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest, and thus did not take his oath. He is considered a &quot;fugitive from justice.&quot;</p><p><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/jinggoy-estrada-detained-in-payatas-jail-after-surrender-for-plunder-case-2048">Senator Jinggoy Estrada</a> is facing plunder charges in relation to the flood control scandal, while <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/marcoleta-enters-not-guilty-plea-to-plunder-gift-receipt-cases-0905">Senator Rodante Marcoleta</a> has also been arrested after being charged with plunder. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aCrljyGemK4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla on Wednesday urged the prosecution not to be "one-sided" in their impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla on Wednesday urged the prosecution not to be "one-sided" in their impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Padilla to prosecution in VP Sara's impeachment: Sana 'wag kayong one-sided

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Padilla to prosecution in VP Sara's impeachment: Sana 'wag kayong one-sided

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 05:20 PM PHT

|

Updated July 22, 2026 11:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Robin Padilla

Sara Duterte

Impeachment Case

Gerville Luistro

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.