Manila: The House prosecution panel expects to finish its confidential funds presentation as early as next week, then move to the next article in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. House prosecutor and Manila Representative Joel Chua announced the target in a press briefing Tuesday after retired Colonel Manaros Boransing II and Colonel Magtanggol Panopio testified about Army certifications later used in the Department of Education's response to state auditors.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chua said the team had already covered the central points involving the Youth Leadership Summits and the military certifications. "Masasabi natin, baka by next week ay matapos na (We can say that we can finish by next week), hopefully, ang confidential funds, and we will move on to the next article," he said at the prosecution post-trial press conference.
Chua noted that two more military officers would not be presented because their expected testimony would largely repeat the points already placed on the record. "To shorten. ayaw naman natin ng protracted hearing. Gusto natin matapos na rin ito (we don't want a protracted hearing. We also want to finish this)," he said.
On Wednesday, the prosecution expects to present former DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael Wesley Poa and a representative of the Philippine Statistics Authority. Poa is expected to address the chain behind the military certifications, while the PSA witness will cover its checks of names appearing in confidential-fund records.
After those witnesses, Chua said the remaining Article I lineup would be short. "Ang natitira na lamang si Mr. Edward Fajarda, and probably isa, or at most, dalawa (Only Fajarda is left, and probably one or at the most, two)," he said, referring to DepEd's former special disbursing officer. The prosecution will make its final lineup decision after Wednesday's hearing.
Article I centers on the alleged misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds: PHP500 million released to the Office of the Vice President in 2022 and 2023, and PHP112.5 million released to DepEd in 2023 while Duterte was education secretary. The broader goal, Chua said, is to complete the presentation of evidence in time for the impeachment court to deliberate before year-end. "Sana, hopefully, by November tapos na lahat (everything is finished), so by December we can have the decision of the impeachment court whether or not to convict the Vice President," he said.
Meanwhile, the House prosecution will keep its full 11-member panel in place for now, shelving a proposal for some prosecutors to resign so they could speak publicly about Duterte's impeachment trial. "We have decided, wala na lang munang mag-resign (nobody will resign for now)," Chua said.
The panel considered a reshuffle after the Senate impeachment court reiterated limits on public comments about matters being tried. One option was for selected House prosecutors to leave the panel and serve only as spokespersons. The prosecution ultimately chose continuity, Chua said.
The House formally elected the 11 prosecutors in May, and changing that structure this late would require removing members and finding replacements, he said. "After considering everything, tutal isang buwan na lang kung masusunod iyong ating target (it's only a month anyway if our targets are followed)," he said.
Instead of changing personnel, the team will keep public briefings focused on schedules, witness sequencing, and other procedural updates. That was also why Chua, a public prosecutor, appeared at Tuesday's briefing. He said reporters could still ask about what comes next without forcing prosecutors into a public discussion of the evidence.
"Baka may magtanong tungkol sa (Somebody might ask about the) procedural aspect outside the merits of the case, so I can answer that," Chua said. The approach allows the public to receive practical updates while the same prosecutors continue their work inside the impeachment court. It also preserves the team's current assignments as the prosecution tries to finish Article I on confidential funds and move to the remaining articles.
