Prosecution says won’t call Duterte as impeachment witness

MANILA (UPDATED) — The prosecution announced on Monday that they will no longer call Vice President Sara Duterte to testify and financial forensic analyst Atty. Alex Cabrera will be its final witness in the impeachment trial.

The prosecution had considered seeking a subpoena for Duterte to appear but also said she could not be compelled to answer questions.

“We don’t see the need to get her testimony anymore when the records, most of them which came from her, already spoke loudly,” prosecution spokesperson Atty. Jay Tolosa said.

House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua of Manila said the defense might present Duterte later on.

“Dahil yun ang kanilang pupwede maging legal strategy para maipaliwanag ng ating bise presidente yung mga bagay-bagay,” Chua added.

(That could be their legal strategy for the vice president to explain issues.)

Duterte in a press conference earlier Monday said that the impeachment trial is being rushed and that the prosecution is only “inventing evidence” against her.

“Hindi ito allegations ng prosecution, again itong mga numero na ito, nakabase sa mga bank records, tax filings mismo ng vice president,” Tolosa said. 

(These are not the prosecution’s allegations. Again, these numbers are based on the vice president’s bank records and tax filings.) 

Tolosa also called on the impeachment court to look into possible violations to the sub judice rule, which prohibits parties from discussing and commenting on the merits of the case

“We’ll leave it to the court,” he said.