Metro Manila, Philippines – The prosecution panel has withdrawn most of its witnesses for Impeachment Article IV, centered on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged grave threats, and named three new individuals to testify for Impeachment Article I, on alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The following are no longer witnesses for Article IV:
+PNP firearms and explosives office representative to testify on Duterte’s firearm ownership;
+Mikhail Flores and Bonz Magsambol, members of the press present in the Nov. 23, 2024 press conference;
+Sheriff Abe Andres, who Duterte punched when she was mayor in 2011;
+the family member of a victim of Duterte’s alleged threats to testify on the effect of these statements; and
+a psychiatrist to testify on Duterte’s state of mind
This leaves National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag as the final witness for Duterte’s alleged threats. He is expected to testify on Tuesday, July 21.
Meanwhile, the prosecution named three new witnesses to testify on Impeachment Article I. They are:
+Marivic Pareja of the Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service of the House of Representatives;
+Violeta Constantino, former branch manager of the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) Shaw Boulevard branch; and
+Nenita Camposano, former branch manager of the Landbank DepEd branch
They are expected to testify next week.
Adverse reactions
Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro announced the charges in court, saying it would do away with redundant and corroborative testimony.
Counsel for the prosecution Lorna Kapunan made a similar manifestation on the removal of Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and Legislative Security Bureau executive director Capt. Belinda Bello from the witness roster.
In response to the lengthy manifestation of Kapunan on Tuesday evening on the withdrawal of witnesses, defense lead counsel Sheila Sison expressed concerns that the manifestations may contain conclusions of law and facts which only the Impeachment Court can determine.
“This affects the fairness and balance of this Impeachment Court and the way it would perceive whatever manifestations or expressions of sentiments or discourses that counsel for both parties will deliver before this court and before the public,” Sison said.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero ordered all counsels to limit their manifestations on the withdrawal of witnesses.
Senator-judge Alan Cayetano also questioned the prosecution’s decision to explain their reasoning.
“The problem with explaining why you’re withdrawing is actually you are feeding to the court something they did not testify to and then something the defense cannot object to. And if it is a proffer or a tender, it is clear to everyone. Inexclude yun, kaya ko nga lang nilalagay,” Cayetano said.
In a press briefing after the adjournment of the Wednesday session, defense spokesperson Michael Poa echoed Sison’s manifestation.
“Ang nangyayari kasi nako-kondisyon yung publiko lalo na pag technical yung nangyayari,” Poa told the media.
“Ang pakiramdam po ng defense ay nagkakaroon ng summation ang kaso at dahil doon ay kino-kondisyon natin yung publiko at yung senator-judges kung ano ba talaga yung ina-advocate natin,” he added, referring to a closing argument.
[Translation: What happens is that the public’s mind is conditioned, especially if what happens in the courtroom is technical. The defense feels that there is summation of the case and because of this, the public and the senator-judges are conditioned as to what we are advocating for.]
