- 2 days ago
Three days into the impeachment proceedings, the national conversation continues to unfold—but how do everyday Cebuanos see it?
Join Beyond the Headlines as we examine the first week of the impeachment through the eyes of ordinary citizens. What issues matter most? What questions remain? And how can Filipinos better understand the process beyond the political noise?
Be part of the discussion. Share your thoughts, ask your questions, and let's look deeper, think better, and engage in a respectful conversation based on facts and informed perspectives.
📺 Tune in to Beyond the Headlines and join the conversation live.
Join Beyond the Headlines as we examine the first week of the impeachment through the eyes of ordinary citizens. What issues matter most? What questions remain? And how can Filipinos better understand the process beyond the political noise?
Be part of the discussion. Share your thoughts, ask your questions, and let's look deeper, think better, and engage in a respectful conversation based on facts and informed perspectives.
📺 Tune in to Beyond the Headlines and join the conversation live.
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NewsTranscript
01:01Then comes the milk, steamed smooth, creamy and balanced.
01:07The perfect latte is not brushed, it is crafted, one cup at a time.
01:13Your perfect latte is ready.
01:16Coffee first, then everything else.
01:19Good afternoon. Welcome to Beyond the Headlines, where we look deeper and think better.
01:25I'm DJ Moises, and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
01:30The first week of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has drawn intense public attention.
01:38Every day has generated headlines, viral clips, even memes, and passionate opinions.
01:45Day one, the trial officially opened with statements from both sides.
01:50Much of the day focused on procedural issues, ground rules, and the early legal arguments before substantive evidence was presented.
02:01Day two, the prosecution called its first witness, NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilong, to authenticate evidence and explain the
02:11investigation into the Vice President's public statements.
02:15The defense, led in part by Attorney Carlo Joaquin Narvaza, fluently objected, testing the foundation and admissibility of the prosecution's
02:27evidence.
02:28Day three, the prosecution completed its direct examination, and the defense began its cross-examination.
02:35The defense focused on defining the limits of the witness expertise.
02:42This afternoon, we will unpack what happened during the first week of the trial.
02:46Of course, I am not a lawyer, so I hope I will not be bashed by stating my views.
02:51But my value here is I am representing everyday Filipinos and everyday Sebuwanos who are following the impeachment hearing.
03:01So let's begin.
03:01So as mentioned in the intro, the humor of the Filipinos still came out, and they still leverage on what
03:11is viewed to be our strength,
03:13to look at the lighter side of things by several memes that surfaced regarding the setup in front of the
03:23impeachment court.
03:24And I'm referring to Senate President Nguyen Gachalian and presiding officer, Senator Cheese Escudero, seated together.
03:34So some people still look at it as awkward, but we have already explained why the setup was like that.
03:42And then, I think on our first episode, at least two days ago, when we spoke about the first day
03:49of the impeachment,
03:50at that time, there were concerns about Senator Cheese Escudero's capability and objectivity in terms of managing the court proceedings.
03:59But after three days, the overall consensus, whether they are critics of the impeachment or supporters of the impeachment,
04:06the overall consensus so far is he's doing just a good job in terms of managing the overall hearing so
04:16far.
04:16So he's demonstrating what we hoped a presiding officer should be.
04:22Now, the second is, again, we will summarize what are the four articles of impeachment.
04:28And then I would have to go over them according to the sequence as agreed during the first day.
04:36So as we know, the charges against the vice president were summarized by the House of Representatives into just four
04:43articles.
04:44So they started already with Article 4, which is the first, threats and sedition.
04:52And this was the allegations of the threats that were shared online by the vice president against the lives of
05:01the president,
05:02the first lady, and who was then the former House Speaker.
05:09So that's the first of the sequence.
05:11The second, they will then move towards the misuse of funds.
05:16So this was the confidential funds specific to both the office of the vice president and also the Department of
05:24Education.
05:25Although this is also the part in which a lot of critics to the impeachment would say that the vice
05:31president is not the only office with confidential funds.
05:34So that's why I think I would say that once we reach this stage of the conversation,
05:40this is also when things will surface again about the vice president being singled out.
05:46Now, the third of the sequence is Article 3.
05:49Now, this time on procurement irregularities.
05:52I think this is where the personalities who we fondly know as Mary Grace Piatos will surface.
05:58And there were actually talks that Mary Grace Piatos will be part of the, will take the witness stand.
06:04So let's see.
06:05And then finally, Article 2.
06:07Now, they will end into the unexplained wealth.
06:10So this is the Mahiwagang BIR box that was returned from the Senate to the, to BIR, no?
06:20And again, as covered, it's not returned because it's not going to be used as evidence anymore.
06:25But it's, they will return because it's not yet time.
06:28And the argument that will specifically, specifically be introduced once that time will come,
06:35it's just a matter of deciding whether the box should be open publicly or the box will be open through
06:40an executive session.
06:42But yeah, so this is the sequence, no?
06:45Now, now that we have refreshed ourselves on the four articles of impeachment, I've also read, kind of, critics, no?
06:52Of, of, of, and by the way, no?
06:54So what we are advancing here, by the way, in Beyond the Headlines and even in Sunstar is to look
06:59at the arguments on both sides, no?
07:01Because I think this is also one of the, one of the, the learnings that we will have,
07:07whether we are supporters or the critics of the vice president, that since this has already turned into a national
07:13teleserye,
07:14so let's also look at it as a national exercise of critical thinking.
07:19So this is a good time also for us to learn, no?
07:22The value of looking at both sides because algorithm and social media will always support our bias.
07:28So let's be, let's, let's demonstrate that human is superior than algorithm or AI by making conscious effort to look
07:38at the other side
07:39because that's what makes us human and not robots.
07:42Now, going back to the point, so critics of the impeachment, I've read that they were already asking why the
07:50prosecution is already too gung-ho, no?
07:53In terms of the first, the second, and the third day pa lang.
07:58And that this is the, the, the, the article specific to threats and sedition on the lives of the president,
08:06the first lady, and then the speaker of the house.
08:09So they were saying that if strong to ilang argument with the salen, which in my view also was, it
08:16bothered me actually when, when I saw it during the justice committee hearing.
08:21But anyway, and that's going to be tried last man among the four articles.
08:24So those who were critics actually said na kung strong to ang ilang salen and naamang yung kaisulud ang mahiwagang
08:31box coming from the BIR, why are they so gung-ho, no?
08:35Of, of, of, of, of, of the first, which is on the threats to, in the lives of certain leaders.
08:41And my answer to that, and it's not because I disagree with their perspective, but maybe this is one part
08:49that they need to take a closer look, no?
08:52Why they are spending a lot of time, the prosecution, on the first, no?
08:59And under the Senate rules of procedures and impeachment trial, the Senate votes on each articles of impeachment.
09:09So in each article, so they will vote whether the, the vice president is going to be convicted or not.
09:23So if any one of the four articles would get two-thirds vote, that is already sufficient to impeach the
09:35vice president.
09:36So in my view, the prosecution is not leaving any stones unturned.
09:44So if they will just succeed on this one, and then this is going to get, at least for now,
09:52no?
09:52Okay, reiterate man sa presiding officer, Chief Scudero, that it would still need 16 votes, no?
09:59If this will get 16 votes to convict, maski un sapay, votation sa other three articles of impeachment, that is
10:10already enough to convict the vice president and impeach her, no?
10:14So, so that said, I hope people now understand why it's taking long, no?
10:20In the process, because what's the consequence, no?
10:24Obvious consequence, if the vice president is going to be convicted or impeached?
10:29Number one, it's removal of office, no?
10:33From office as the vice president of the country.
10:36And second, I think this is the most damaging.
10:38It's disqualification to hold any office under the Republic of the Philippines.
10:47This does not necessarily translate for her to be imprisoned because that would still have to be forwarded to the
10:55courts, no?
10:56So, ang atong gisurahan lang yun dinhi is impeachment.
10:59Although they use the word conviction, but this is conviction in the trial, no?
11:06Impeachment trial.
11:08So, so that's the consequence, no?
11:11And in my view, that's even worse than being imprisoned, no?
11:14I mean, if we look at it in the context of the vice president intending to run as president in
11:212028, no?
11:22So, this conviction will permanently disqualify her, no?
11:27To hold any public office.
11:28So, that's why on both parties, it's understandable, no?
11:33That they would really spend a lot of time on each article of impeachment.
11:37So, I hope that already answers certain rants I saw on Facebook na nga nung dugay mangkai sila dinhingan kung
11:44strong mangkailang evidence ni Mary Grace Piatos.
11:47So, that answers your question.
11:49Now, let's cover into day two, no?
11:53Okay, nung man naman tagtabi at about day one, two episodes ago.
11:56So, the prosecution, indeed, to move from their opening statements, already on their first, they already moved towards the evidence.
12:06And the first prosecution witness was John Mark Kalilong.
12:11He is a senior agent of the National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI.
12:16And his main role into the trial is he is testifying regarding the investigation into the Vice President Sara Duterte's
12:27public statement in which she said she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, Lisa
12:39Araneta Marcos, and the former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she was assassinated.
12:46So, if we follow the proceedings, this was the question that was raised by Senator Judge Alan Peter Cayetano.
12:55He asked John Mark Kalilong if, indeed, it was a conditional threat, and the witness, si John Mark Kalilong, confirmed
13:06it was a conditional threat.
13:08But there are also schools of thoughts.
13:16Sorry, I'm not laughing because of what I'm saying.
13:20But anyway, going back, there are certain schools of thoughts that would say it's not about it being conditional, but
13:29it's really an actual threat.
13:32And remind me later, just in case I'll forget, there are also an emerging defense thought also.
13:38But, but, but, but, sige, I'll go.
13:40I'll cover it na lang kayo makalimot ko.
13:42The defense thought mang good.
13:43That's why there was a strong, kanang, opposing sides, whether they need to show just the two-minute, more than
13:52two-minute clip, or they will show the entire more than two-hours clip.
13:56No, and wala pa ni-confirm ang defense whether they will show that when their turn will come.
14:03Huwa pa sila ni-confirm because they're looking at it on the entire proceedings.
14:06But I think the essence of the entire two-hour clip, because katong nakita na to nga ni Viral, is
14:12just a very small part of the two-hour plus clip.
14:16So, there are certain contexts that could emerge that led to the threat.
14:24So, some people, at least supporting the vice president, would say that it's possible that she said that in the
14:32context of being a mother, in which her life is threatened.
14:36And so, she will protect her family.
14:40But I'm not saying also that's valid or not, but I'm just saying that's the one being floated.
14:45That's why conversations are ongoing, whether the two-hour footage will really be shown in public, or they will just
14:53stick into the two minutes, which we have been seeing, that went viral since 2024.
14:59So, if we are to look at the credibility of John Mark Kalilong, and this is what I gathered, and
15:07I'm also convinced, is he joined NBI in 2021.
15:12His assignment was Digital Forensics Laboratory.
15:16And then by 2024, that's when he moved to the Cybercrime Division, expanding his role in investigating online threats and
15:25violations.
15:25And he has appeared in court 30 times to present digital evidence, which actually demonstrates reliability, in my view, as
15:38a witness, and his ability also to communicate clearly to judges and also to lawyers.
15:45So, in my view, he is a strong witness to establish the authenticity of the video.
15:55So, his primary testimony, in a nutshell, this went on for like three hours, that he received and investigated the
16:06vice president's video.
16:08And he authenticated that the video is not AI-generated.
16:15In my view, the fact that the vice president did not take what she said after the video was released,
16:26di na siguro po to AI.
16:28Okay, if that was a fake video, then there could have been pronouncements after that said,
16:36na, oy, that wasn't me.
16:38I did not say that.
16:40But since then, until the present, there was none.
16:44So, muraglisod siguro nga, i-angle na to siya nga, it was AI-generated, no?
16:51That's just my view, no?
16:54And so, the prosecution actually chose, in my view, a very strong narrative kanang theme, no?
17:02So, they were able to present in court, no?
17:11That the two-minute clip is the vice president's own public statement.
17:19And the video also went viral, no?
17:22So, di li rato siya kanabit ang gikuha lang sa iya ang phone.
17:27So, I think it's hard to disprove that she was not the one talking in the video, in my view.
17:34So, attorney Armando Ligutan, by the way, is a Cebuano lawyer, no?
17:38And we guested him in the show twice, no?
17:41Here in Beyond the Headlines.
17:43Ni trending ni siya, especially on the first day, because he was on the prosecution, no?
17:48Side.
17:49So, he appeared to be well-prepared, technically sound.
17:54He was also able to respond effectively, no?
18:00To the defense, no?
18:03And very, in a manner that's grounded on procedure and evidence.
18:08So, a lot of Cebuanos, actually, whichever side, no?
18:11Of the impeachment trial, eventually expressed their thoughts online, no?
18:18About how his conduct, no?
18:22As a prosecution lawyer, no?
18:25And he was able to build a good foundation for the prosecution's case, no?
18:33Now, on the defense, on the other side, and this is largely attorney Narvaza,
18:39kanyang medyo people were amused, no?
18:42By his constant objection.
18:47And katusad, ang ako lang sang viewan ni Kay Murad, people immediately dismissed him as unprepared,
18:54that he was not a good lawyer.
18:56But I am not here to tell you about his CV, so I would suggest that you do your own
19:01research.
19:02Because in my view, he's not exactly dumb, no?
19:07He knows what he was doing.
19:09And from, at least from what I gathered from my circle, no?
19:13And some of them are lawyers.
19:15He is actually, attorney Carlo Joaquin Narvaza is strategic, no?
19:24In terms of protection the record, protecting the records.
19:27So, that's a good demonstration.
19:29And then, if you would notice, his disruption also of attorney Ligutan somehow affected attorney Ligutan's rhythm, no?
19:42Especially towards the end.
19:44And for lawyers, that is a tactic, no?
19:48That's a trial tactic.
19:49So, in that context, he was able to, at least, demonstrate or signal the scrutiny to the senator judges, no?
20:00So, from a lay person, I think his objection, while some people found it funny,
20:07was disciplined and consistent with the defense role, no?
20:12So, now, let's move to day three.
20:15So, manata sa day two.
20:17So, day three, this was the time in which the witness, NBI senior agent, John Mark Kalilong, will be cross
20:25-examined.
20:25By the way, supposedly, on a normal trial, ang presentation of witness and then the cross-examination would usually happen
20:35in a day.
20:36But because, again, of the importance of this proceeding, that's why na bulag sila in two days.
20:42So, on day three, attorney Narvaza this time questioned NBI witness.
20:46Yes, and nai mga memes punta ni surface any, but I will not show them.
20:51But there's this part in which he asked John Mark Kalilong, no?
20:57About ang MAC scores.
20:59I think I stated it here, no?
21:01But about the credibility, no?
21:04Of the training that he got, no?
21:09So, he, ah, yeah, okay, MAC score interventions, no?
21:15So, he presented very detailed, kanyang he presented the articles of partnership, which actually states that MAC score interventions own,
21:24use, improve, subdivide, etc., etc., etc.
21:28What he was just trying to say is, it's not enough to demonstrate expertise, no?
21:33On the expertise of John Mark Kalilong, not necessarily his expertise on authenticating or the video, but in terms of
21:47whether the vice president truly intended to make those comments.
21:52Am I making sense?
21:53So, iang distance ang witness na, okay, the video is, is, can be, can be true.
22:02It's not AI generated.
22:04But that's what the witness can just do.
22:07Whether the vice president intended to actually do it, that's not part of his competence.
22:12And in that context, if I read it correctly, I think, ah, attorney, ah, Juan Carlo Narvaza, succeeded, no?
22:22Kanyang, na-limit lang niya ang scope sa expertise of John Mark Kalilong.
22:27So, in a nutshell, the prosecution successfully completed.
22:32And by the way, diay, no?
22:34Kanyang, kanyang, mupadayon pa ning threats to next week, by the way.
22:40So, imagine, kanyang, kanyang taas-taas niya nga proceeding and it's just one article of impeachment.
22:46But anyway, the, the day three succeeded, I mean, the prosecution successfully completed the testimony of the first witness without
22:53him,
22:55kanyang, with him, without his credibility, kanyang successfully dismantled.
23:00Okay, that's supposed to be, that's supposed to be a tactic, manong, akong ikaw ang witness,
23:05kanyang, they will really, it's a common practice to really dismantle the credibility na by the time kanyang ipang sulti,
23:14the messenger is already defective.
23:16But in that context, the prosecution successfully kanyang completed the testimony of John Mark Kalilong
23:25and his integrity and credibility remained intact, no?
23:29And then on the defense part, I like also that they did not discredit already the witness and then just
23:37that it's AI generated,
23:39but they focused also on defining the limits of his expertise.
23:45Authenticating the video, that's his expertise.
23:48Saying that the vice president truly intended to do what she said, that is not his expertise.
23:55So, day three, in my view, whichever side of the impeachment we are,
24:01day three actually increased confidence on the professionalism of both legal teams.
24:07And I could actually hear, no, a lot of my friends already joking na
24:11ang mo-benefit gin aning trial geared are the law schools.
24:15Kay mo regdaghan ng mo enroll into law school after this, no?
24:20And on a personal note lang ba,
24:23kanyang this also looks more of a consolation to me,
24:26although we're just three days, no, out of the 92 days.
24:30But if there's a consolation on me,
24:31nakita sad na ako nga na yung mga nagsamok-samok yun na mga tao on social media, no?
24:37Nga, mumisled to the public.
24:39But I'm seeing actually an emerging trend of people appreciating the work of both sides.
24:46And for me, that's a good sign, no?
24:48Okay, again, I will have to go back.
24:50Now, these lawyers are not there because kanapitang they're dumb.
24:54So let's be careful when we see posts attacking the lawyers as if they're not qualified to do that.
25:00Remember, this is a very high-profile case that will also change the course of history of the country.
25:06I don't think any of these parties will give this to a less qualified lawyer.
25:12So I would suggest let's back off na from that and then let's focus on the merits of the argument.
25:18Because as I've said earlier, this is a national exercise of critical thinking.
25:25So let's make the most of this experience.
25:28So an impeachment trial reminds us that our responsibility is not merely to choose sides, but to think carefully.
25:38Evaluate evidence fairly and reach conclusions based on facts rather than loyalty to a political party.
25:47Those are skills that improve not only our civic life, but also leadership, business, and everyday decision-making.
25:59Our job, that's also part of our job here at Beyond the Headlines.
26:04Because headlines tell us what happened.
26:07It's even a clickbait most of the time.
26:10But understanding tells us why it matters.
26:13So I'm DJ Moises.
26:15Thank you to Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
26:18This is Beyond the Headlines where we look deeper and think better.
26:23Have a good afternoon.
26:29It starts with a fresh shot of espresso.
26:33Bold, rich, pulled just right.
26:39Then comes the milk.
26:41Steamed smooth, creamy, and balanced.
26:44The perfect latte is not brushed.
26:47It is crafted.
26:49One cup at a time.
26:51Your perfect latte is ready.
26:53Coffee first.
26:55Then, everything else.
26:58Then, everything else.
27:02Coffee first.
27:04Then, everything else.
27:10Then, everything else.
27:16Then, everything else.
27:16Then, everything else.
27:17Then, everything else.
27:18Then, everything else.
27:18Then, everything else.
27:19Then, everything else.
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