MANILA – The House prosecution panel on Thursday said Vice President Sara Duterte should be called out for allegedly undermining the integrity of the Senate impeachment court through repeated public statements questioning the proceedings.

House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Renee Co of the Kabataan Party-list made the statement as the Senate impeachment court prepares to rule on alleged violations of Rule 18, which prohibits parties from making public comments or disclosures on the merits of a pending impeachment trial.

Presiding Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero is expected to issue the ruling on Monday.

Co said Duterte’s remarks accusing the impeachment process of “bending the law” were particularly concerning because they came from the respondent herself.

She also cited Duterte’s statement on the fourth day of the trial, in which the Vice President alleged that evidence against her had been fabricated and described the proceedings as a waste of public resources.

“Ultimately, kung may dapat sitahin ang impeachment court, si VP Sara iyon,” Co said.

She stressed that the tribunal should protect its authority and apply its rules equally to all parties.

“Kung bawal bastusin ang impeachment court, dapat bawal para sa lahat,” Co said, calling for “one court, one standard.”

Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr., counsel and spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, said parties may criticize what happens during proceedings but should not attack the integrity of the court itself.

He said Duterte should raise her objections before the impeachment court and directly respond to the allegations against her.

House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan Party-list said the sub judice rule should be applied fairly and should not prevent factual reporting on proceedings or reasonable explanations of legal principles.

“The call, of course, from all sides is that the Rules of the Senate on impeachment cases should be applied fairly, even-handedly,” Diokno said.

He said the tribunal’s consistency in enforcing the rule would be tested as the trial continues, urging it to apply the same standards to the prosecution, defense and senator-judges.

Tolosa said the sub judice rule applies not only to lawyers but also to the parties themselves, including the respondent. He added that attacks on the integrity of the court could potentially go beyond a sub judice violation and constitute contemptuous conduct.

Co acknowledged Duterte’s right to defend herself but said neither the Vice President nor her lawyers should be given special privilege to undermine the tribunal.