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Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday launched several jabs against Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero, questioning why the chamber declined to issue a subpoena for him to testify in ouster proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News & Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit
MANILA — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday launched several jabs against Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero, questioning why the chamber declined to issue a subpoena for him to testify in ouster proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The prosecution earlier wanted to present Trillanes as a witness on September 30, but Escudero asked the prosecution panel if they would consider presenting an official from Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) first, saying that the “cart cannot be put ahead of the horse.”
The court earlier told the prosecution that it would not issue a subpoena for Trillanes “at this time,” but Escudero clarified that the chamber “cannot prevent the prosecution from calling him as a witness voluntarily."
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“Ganito kasimple: my name was there. Bumalik yung mga subpoena, ako lang wala,” he said. “Bakit hindi po nag-issue ng subpoena yung presiding officer? The signal is clear, hindi ako welcome.”
“Inisa isa natin yung mga naabutan natin doon, hindi naman sila nakonsulta,” he said, referring to senators who were his colleagues in previous Congresses.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano — who has been at odds with Trillanes over several issues — was not among the senator-judges who blocked the subpoena, the former lawmaker said.
“To be fair to my ex-good friend and colleague, hindi naman siya kumontra,” he said.
Trillanes declined to give a categorical answer when asked about his theory on why the presiding officer supposedly refused to issue a subpoena to summon him to court.
“Just ask him, kung gusto niya talaga ako bakit hindi siya nag-issue ng subpoena Alam ko kung ano yan, kung saan yan pero ibang matter na yan,” he said.
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“Baka naman may redeeming value pa. Let us suspend our judgement pero let’s call him out,” he said.
TRILLANES-ESCUDERO BEEF?
Last year, Trillanes criticized the Escudero’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth that showed that the latter’s P18.84 million net worth was the lowest in the 24-member chamber.
Trillanes declined to comment when asked if the seeming beef between him and presiding officer was linked to a spat over Escudero’s SALN declarations.
“Magiging distraction yan sa main issue. Hindi naman ako petty na tao. I will deal with those people behind later on,” he said.
Despite this, Trillanes slammed the conduct of the impeachment proceedings in the Senate, blaming the presiding officer for the way it is being conducted.
“Kung magaling-galing lang ang nagpe-preside diyan, dapat liberal. Hindi naman ito criminal trial na may kulong,” he said.
“Yung presiding officer yung nagtitimon. Kung boring yung impeachment trial, it’s entirely the fault of the presiding officer.”
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SPOX RESPONDS
“Bantayan ninyo ang presiding officer.”
Trillanes gave these scathing remarks against the presiding officer after presenting the Duterte family’s alleged questionable transactions with the People’s Republic of China and an alleged Davao-based drug syndicate.
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Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol belied Trillanes’ claim that he is “not welcome” in the Senate.
“The fact na nakapasok po siya noong Tuesday na nandun po siya at nakaupo pa po siya doon sa main gallery kung saan ay nakalaan po yun sa mga very important persons,” he said.
“Kung talaga pong gustong iupo, eh dapat nasabi po nung Lunes yung pangalan ni former Senator Trillanes kasi hindi naman po pwedeng unfair surprise dahil may mga dokumentong dala yung isang testigo, may mga paghahanda rin gagawin ang court staff.”
“Kaya sinabi ni presiding officer, o baka hindi na ako makapag-issue ng subpoena para kinabukasan.”
Prosecution drops Trillanes as impeachment witness
It remains to be the prosecution’s prerogative on whether or not they would call Trillanes to the witness stand, Tongol said.
"Walang pagpipigil po dahil ready naman po ang impeachment court para doon sa kanyang mga testimonya,” Tongol said.
“Yung narrative ninyo, gusto niyo na mayroong underhanded na nangyari? Wala po talaga. Kung anong sinabi ko, yun lang yun,” he said. — With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News.
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