Manila: The House prosecution panel will present more than 30 witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville 'Jinky Bitrics' Luistro of Batangas said Monday. In a press conference at the House of Representatives, Luistro stated that some witness identities and documentary evidence might be withheld from public disclosure at the pre-trial stage for security and procedural reasons.
According to Philippines News Agency, Luistro emphasized that the witness list expanded after prosecutors decided to include additional individuals whose testimony could help establish the allegations contained in the Articles of Impeachment. 'It is more than 25. The witnesses are not only 25, it's not only 30, it's even more,' Luistro declared.
She explained that the prosecution opted to broaden its witness pool because impeachment rules generally require that witnesses be identified in pre-trial proceedings before they can testify. Luistro noted, 'It is because we recognize the rule that only those witnesses whose names were submitted during pre-trial will be allowed to testify during the trial.'
The pre-trial brief, scheduled for filing by prosecutors on Monday, will incorporate proposed stipulations of fact, a witness list, and documentary evidence intended for presentation before the Senate impeachment court. Luistro explained that impeachment rules also permit parties to reserve certain witnesses and evidence, provided they sufficiently describe their relevance and intended purpose.
San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora highlighted this flexibility, stating that it allows parties to withhold the identities of certain witnesses while still informing the court about the nature of their testimony. Zamora remarked, 'While the general rule is that we have to list down all of the names of the witnesses that we will be presenting during trial, we are allowed to withhold certain names for security and safety purposes.'
The issue arose after reporters inquired whether bank officials would be called to testify on allegations involving unexplained wealth. Zamora mentioned that the prosecution might choose not to publicly identify such witnesses at this stage but could describe their positions and the purpose of their testimony in the pre-trial brief.
Luistro further stated that bank representatives and bank records have long been part of the evidence intended to support the House's case. The prosecution is also preparing extensive documentary evidence, particularly for the impeachment articles involving alleged misuse of confidential funds and unexplained wealth.
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, with the trial commencing on July 6.
