Prosecution: Defense withdraws witnesses to ‘prevent further disaster’
Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan takes an oath before the Senate impeachment court as a defense witness for Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City. Bajan is expected to testify on Duterte’s salary during her tenure as a Davao City official and present payroll records and supporting vouchers related to her compensation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — The prosecution welcomed the defense’s decision on Thursday to withdraw 15 bank representatives and present only one witness instead.
House trial adviser Ace Barbers suggested the move may have been prompted by the defense’s own missteps during the testimonies of its first witnesses.
“So I guess reducing the number is simply just trying to prevent further disaster from this side of the defense,” he said.
“Sa tingin ko, self-inflicted, that’s correct. It’s the proverbial, you shot yourself on the foot,” Barbers added.
Private prosecutor Atty. Jay Tolosa said the defense has the discretion to withdraw its witnesses, but stressed that the situation was different from when the prosecution previously opted to dispense with some of its witnesses after their testimonies had already established what was needed.
“Kami ho nung nag-dispense with some of the witnesses. Yun ho yung after hearing yung the testimony of the witnesses that we’ve presented so far… Pero iba ho yung nangyari today, for example the bank representatives, na nandito na ho sila ngayon 16 na napakadami and then decided i-urong hindi na pala sila kailangan tomorrow,” he explained.
The prosecution panel said the defense’s decision to reduce its witnesses could help expedite the trial, adding that they remain committed to stipulating on matters that could shorten the proceedings.
“We’re exerting efforts to abbreviate the proceedings and make sure that we will be able to wrap this up sooner rather than later,” Tolosa added.