MANILA — Prosecutors have lined up an “explosive” set of witnesses this week as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte tackles Article II or allegations that she has unexplained wealth.
Lead impeachment prosecutor Gerville Luistro said the prosecution would present Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, who was expected to testify on some P6.7 billion in flagged bank transactions by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
Other witnesses lined up this week included representatives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, LandBank, Asia United Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, Metrobank, BPI, PNB and Banco de Oro, as well as several insurance companies.
“Lahat ng ito explosives,” she said, adding she did not know if the presentation could be finished within the week or spill over into next week.
The AMLC is expected to testify on transactions involving 15 juridical entities from 2007 to 2025, transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2022 to 2025, inward remittances to Calle 88 Foods Corp. from China and other countries, as well as insurance and investment-related transactions, prosecution legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said in a separate ANC interview.
The Senate impeachment court has now started whole-day hearings of the impeachment trial from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or beyond, Monday to Friday, until October 15 at which point the chamber will break for budget deliberations.
Luistro said the prosecution was hoping to finish its presentation of witnesses and documentary evidence before October 15 especially if the hearings last until evening.
“Kung one to sawa to, kahit hanggang late night, baka matapos ito ng maaga… Kung talagang hahaba itong whole-day trial baka even before October 15 we are done,” she said.
She also confirmed that the prosecution panel was seriously considering dropping its presentation on Article III or graft and bribery against Duterte including the alleged distribution of cash envelopes to Department of Education officials
“I am confirming that the prosecution is inclined to drop bribery in the presentation of evidence. However…until it is formally manifested before the impeachment court, we cannot say it is official already,” she said.
One reason why the prosecution has considered dropping Article III in the trial is that prosecutors do not want to drag the trial for too long.
“The legislative function of the Senate is equally important. Naghihintay na rin ang taong-bayan ng conclusion sa impeachment trial na ito,” Luistro said.
She added the prosecution was confident that it presented enough evidence on the grave threats and misuse of confidential funds allegations and would present even more explosive evidence on the allegation of unexplained wealth.
“Malakas na ‘yung tatlo, notwithstanding malakas pa ‘yung isa. These should be enough to conclude and wrap up this presentation of Articles for the prosecution,” she said.
WITNESSES TO CORROBORATE TRILLANES CLAIMS?
In the interview, Luistro she respects the decision of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to drop out as an impeachment witness, noting that the former senator has conducted his own investigation into the Duterte family.
Luistro said prosecutors included Trillanes in the list of potential witnesses during the pre-trial briefing and had even requested for a subpoena.
Trillanes says he backed out as impeachment witness to relieve ‘pressure’ on prosecution
However, she said the panel also took note of the impeachment court’s pronouncement that presenting Trillanes was akin to “putting the cart before the horse” and that the AMLC and bank representatives should present first.
“Alam natin kung gaano katibay ang paninindigan ni former Senator Sonny Trillanes… Ang haba na ng kanyang pakikipaglaban and we thought na this would have been the perfect time na maisiwalat niya lahat if not for his decision to withdraw his name,” she said.
She added Trillanes’ “explosive” allegations during last Friday’s press conference would have raised several objections from the defense if presented before the trial.
Trillanes accuses Sara Duterte, Mans Carpio of receiving millions in funding from China
“They are all explosives,” she said.
“Dahil ang ating testigo ay puros financial institutions, concerning financial records…’Yung kuwento po binigay ng ating senador, ngayon bantayan natin from our witnesses ang resibo,” she added.
Sara Duterte’s defense says Trillanes' withdrawal as impeachment witness‘ not expected’
Tolosa said the ultimate question before the impeachment court is whether Duterte remains fit to hold public office.
“Of course, at the end of the day, what’s important in this impeachment proceedings, the question here is the fitness to remain in office,” he said. “So once we think the evidence that we presented are already enough to approve these matters, then we can rest already and not proceed with the other article.”
— With a report from Chalssea Kate Echegoyen, ABS-CBN News