Defensor Criticizes Zubiri for Calling Impeachment a 'Witch Hunt'

The usually mild-mannered Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor has expressed disapproval of Senator Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri's characterization of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case as a 'witch hunt'.

'It's very unbecoming of a senator-judge in an impeachment trial to say that the impeachment complaint and the trial is a witch hunt,' Defensor said in an interview with House of Representatives reporters on Tuesday, July 8.

Defensor, one of the 11 congressman-prosecutors in the impeachment case against the controversial official, criticized Zubiri, stating that such remarks should not come from a senator-judge who is expected to be impartial and treat the impeachment as a constitutional process.

'I hope that doesn't happen again,' Defensor added, advising the senator from Bukidnon to be cautious in his public statements and avoid prejudging the impeachment and the forthcoming evidence during the trial.

'Let's limit our statements to how the process should proceed during the trial and refrain from commenting on the substance, particularly our stance on the impeachment and the articles of impeachment,' Defensor emphasized.

'Let's wait for the evidence and the decision instead of labeling it a witch hunt,' he further stated, highlighting that remarks like Zubiri's could influence public perception of the case and trial proceedings.

'It's telegraphing how they want the case to be decided early on even before the evidence is presented,' the Iloilo lawmaker pointed out.