Metro Manila, Philippines – A court sheriff once punched by Vice President Sara Duterte, journalists, and a psychiatrist will take the witness stand for the looming impeachment trial, to address allegations of grave threats committed by the second highest official.
In a press briefing on Friday, June 26, Jay Tolosa, legal spokesperson for the prosecution panel, said the inclusion of Abe Andres, the court sheriff punched by Duterte in 2011, would gauge the behavior of the vice president.
Duterte, who was Davao City mayor at the time, punched the court sheriff after he proceeded with a court-ordered demolition of an informal settlement despite her request for a delay.
Andres is among the eight witnesses listed by the prosecution for Article 4, which is focused on the supposed assassination plot of Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., grave threats, and allegations of inciting to sedition to the government.
“Under the rules, it is allowed to present evidence to establish a behavioral pattern, to establish the propensity of a person to resort to violence, for example,” Tolosa said.
Meanwhile, the prosecution also listed journalists who were present when Duterte lashed out at a media briefing in November 2024, saying she hired someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she herself gets murdered.
“I think it’s also a way to strengthen what the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation)…has reported that this is not a doctored video, it is not a manufactured video. So having those present during the press briefing or the Zoom meeting or whatever you can call it, the vice president made these utterances, those real persons, journalists, can in fact be important their testimony,” Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Adiong, House trial spokesperson said.
The prosecution panel listed a psychiatrist as a reserve witness.
Tolosa said the medical expert may help in showing “the seriousness of the threats if it appeared that the person making these utterances meant them and were not meant in jest.”
The prosecution earlier disclosed that it intends to present evidence first on the article of threats, to be followed by allegations of confidential fund misuse, bribery, and unexplained wealth.
The trial will begin on July 6.
