Manila: The House prosecution has decided to exclude Vice President Sara Z. Duterte's chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, and House Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Capt. Belinda Bello from its witness list. The prosecution stated that their testimonies regarding alleged threats were deemed either unnecessary or merely corroborative.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday, private prosecutor lawyer Lorna Kapunan announced the decision after evaluating testimony and documentary evidence from the initial witnesses, National Bureau of Investigation officials John Mark Calilung and Jeremy Lotoc. Kapunan explained that presenting Lopez and Bello was considered redundant after the evidence already submitted.
Kapunan highlighted that the prosecution initially intended to call Lopez to support three points related to Duterte's November 23, 2024, online press conference, a focal point of Article IV of the impeachment complaint. Lopez was expected to confirm her presence at the House detention center during Duterte's statements, verify media attendance, and authenticate the video marked as Exhibit P-4-10.
However, Kapunan noted that defense counsel Mark Vinluan acknowledged the occurrence of the press conference, confirming the presence of both Duterte and Lopez, and the delivery of Duterte's statements. This acknowledgment rendered Lopez's testimony unnecessary. Additionally, the video authentication became moot as the defense used sections of the same video during their presentation, confirming its authenticity.
Kapunan further clarified that Bello's testimony was intended to corroborate evidence about events before the online press conference, specifically an order to transfer Lopez within the House detention facility. This order was part of the context discussed in Duterte's November 23 broadcast.
The prosecution's decision to remove Lopez and Bello from its witness list under Article IV, which addresses Duterte's public statements against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, streamlined the trial process. Kapunan emphasized that the decision was based on the evidence presented and the examinations conducted by both parties and senator-judges.
By excluding these witnesses, the prosecution aims to focus on more critical aspects of the trial, thereby reducing the trial dates and concentrating on the significant evidence already available.
