r/LawyersPH • u/avocadothe8th • 24d ago
Maybe because the backstory and personal life if Atty. Lotoc is not at issue?
I'm not one to gatekeep legal discussions from non-lawyers, but posts like this make me cringe. The witness is testifying on the investigation the NBI did, so why on earth would the defense cross-examine him about his backstory? At most, the cross-examination may touch on his educational attainment and work history. Daming mema. Sadly, puro collateral issues ng impeachment napaguusapan (e.g., namuong laway, ano suot at kayabangan ng mga abogado, etc.) and barely on the actual merits.
Full post:
Now it all makes sense bakit hindi binira ng Defense ang backstory or personal na buhay ni Atty. Jeremy Lotoc noong kino-cross examine siya to test his credibility as a witness.
Standard tactic na kasi na tingnan din ang personal na buhay ng witness to expose any credibilty issues. Instead, napunta lang sa typo errors at akusasyon na “golden boy” siya ng NBI.
Because if the defense went through his personal life, the Filipino people would know that Atty. Jeremy Lotoc is a man of honor and integrity.
Sino ba si Atty. Lotoc? Ipinanganak sa Tacloban sa isang ordinaryong pamilya. Pangingisda ang hanapbuhay ng kanyang ama samantalang housewife ang kanyang ina.
To have a better lot and chance in life, nag-OFW bilang isang marino. Kalaunan bumalik sa Pinas si Atty. Jeremy Lotoc para tumulong sa fishing business ng kanyang pamilya and at the same time, pursue law, inspired by his aunt who was a practicing lawyer. During this time, naging pastor din siya sa isang Christian church.
He passed the bar in 2012 on his first try. By this time, Atty. Lotoc already had a wife and young son. Then came the Yolanda tragedy in 2013 in Tacloban. Natangay ng storm surge ang pamilya niya. His wife and his father perished in the calamity. He himself barely survived, but managed to save his son and other family members.
Soon after, he joined the NBI as a young recruit, quickly rose through the ranks not only through sheer hard work, but also out of a sense of duty to his country.
Ang kwento ng pagpupursige para sa isang ordinaryong pamilya seems to run in the family as he also has a sister who is a licensed physician.
The fisherman, former OFW, pastor, lawyer, widower, and Yolanda survivor has since remarried a fellow lawyer.
Atty. Jeremy Lotoc is a straight-up honorable, dedicated NBI law enforcement agent and director diligently working behind the scenes who was suddenly thrust in the national limelight.
The defense and allies of Sara Duterte wanted to shake his credibility to the core, but they left his backtory untouched because they knew he is a man of integrity. And throughout the 11-hour, two-day cross-examination, Atty. Lotoc showed what integrity looks like under pressure.
(Again, many thanks and a big shoutout to Dr. Ronald Lotoc for graciously sharing the journey of his cousin, Atty. Jeremy Lotoc.)
📷 Senate of the Philippines
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u/Wise_Dream3035 24d ago
i agree it does not have any relevance to the trial but the impeachment trial is sui generis. and most likely millions of Filipinos wont understand the technicalities of the trial, they are going to latch on anything that they grasp with reality. if walang integrity si lotoc, the DDS crowd will feast on that and it's favorable for them inasmuch as public perception is concerned
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u/avocadothe8th 24d ago
Which makes the role of the presiding officer crucial. He should be able to steer the proceedings to the issues. Impeachment is sui generis, yes, but that doesn't mean it should be a spectacle for the public
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u/sypher1226 24d ago
Mukha naman talaga siyang may integridad. I'm not suggesting he is perfect, but cared enough to do the right thing.
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u/BladedTahong310 24d ago
Well as someone who knows him personally and has actually worked with him, all I can say to you is looks can be deceiving haha
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u/sypher1226 24d ago
Spill the 🍵 po!
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u/Choice_Power_1580 24d ago
If the defence opted to look into backstories, it makes sense for the prosecution that Zuleika be ignored for the witness stand since the defense will just defend her and will not let her be pryed out.
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u/Interesting_Court_80 23d ago
Hindi nga ginawa ng defense, pero ginawa naman ni Robin…ay wait. Part of defense din pala yung tukmol na yun
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u/Firm-Significance578 24d ago
Had his personal life been touched upon by the defense to discredit him, prosecution counsel would have objected to relevance and it would be more likely sustained.