The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte may adjust its trial strategy after Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson urged them to move away from highly technical arguments and focus on points that would register with the senator-judges.

Defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa said Monday the defense would take Lacson’s remarks as “constructive criticism” and consider whether changes were needed in presenting its case.

“We take it as constructive criticism,” Poa told reporters after the proceedings.

“Because the senator-judges are the important ones here, right? They will decide. Our points must register, must be appreciated by them,” he said in Filipino.

Poa said the defense would discuss whether to “tweak” and “recalibrate” its presentation.

Lacson, in a manifestation, said he understood that the defense’s objective in a cross-examination is to create doubt, including through technical points, to meet the threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

But he urged the defense to adjust its approach. “When your defense strategy is too technical and forced, it does not register,” Lacson said in Filipino.

“It’s like you’re forcing it through a tiny hole,” he added.

Poa said the defense has not settled on changes to its witness presentation, noting that its lawyers have different approaches to cross-examination and oral arguments.

The team would discuss whether adjustments were needed, he said, particularly if some of its intended points were not registering with the senator-judges.