Manila: The prosecution panel on Tuesday announced that it will forgo all 15 remaining witnesses out of the 27 originally intended for Article I, which covers the alleged misuse and misappropriation of the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. 'In lieu of presenting 15 other witnesses, we will be presenting the Vice President herself,' according to private prosecutor, lawyer Lorna Kapunan.
According to Philippines News Agency, the announcement followed discussions among public and private prosecutors that began Monday night and continued before the hearing, Kapunan said. 'After a long meeting last night and towards this morning, just before this hearing, the prosecution, both public and private prosecutors, have decided to. forego, Your Honors, not only with the witnesses subpoenaed for today, but with all the remaining 15 witnesses,' Kapunan told the impeachment court.
That decision included Police Major Jovelyn Magay, Sunshine Fajarda and Bresilio Sabaldan, who had been scheduled for that day. Kapunan confirmed they would no longer be presented and said the prosecution would rest on Article I. Her explanation centered on why the prosecution wanted to hear from Duterte herself after presenting evidence through other witnesses.
Kapunan argued that the accounts and documents already brought before the court pointed towards the Vice President as the person who should answer for the matters under examination. 'And this is why all of these pawns and castles and horses and bishops point to only one person, and that accountable person is the Vice President,' she said.
Kapunan used a chess comparison to describe the connection between the witnesses and Duterte, referring to the Vice President as the queen. She cited the Land Bank witnesses as an example, saying the prosecution had shown that confidential funds existed and were withdrawn. Kapunan said the original 27-witness plan was stated in the prosecution's pre-trial brief. Ten had appeared, she said, while stipulations concerning two others made their personal presence unnecessary.
Kapunan said Duterte's testimony would be relevant beyond the confidential funds allegations. The other subjects are grave threats under Article IV, unexplained wealth under Article II, and bribery under Article III. Unexplained wealth and bribery remained the two articles the prosecution still had to present.
Kapunan urged Duterte to appear, respect the impeachment process and affirm her claim of innocence. She also asked that the senator-judges consider the evidence and testimony with political neutrality and work towards impartial justice. Kapunan, however, clarified that prosecutors were not asking the Senate impeachment court to issue the subpoena immediately.
She said the panel would first complete its presentation on the articles and reserve Duterte's appearance for the end. 'At the end of all of these articles, we reserve the right to present the Vice President herself,' she said. Asked directly whether the prosecution was seeking a subpoena at that point, she answered, "Not at this point, Your Honor, but this will be done at the end of (the) presentation of the four articles.'
Kapunan concluded by saying there would be no more hearings on Article I and thanked the subpoenaed witnesses who had arrived despite the rain.
