MANILA — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday welcomed the prosecution’s unexpected decision to withdraw two of its key witnesses from the impeachment trial, saying the move could help speed up the proceedings and potentially shorten the duration of the case.
The development came near the end of the fifth day of trial when prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan informed the Senate impeachment court that Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez and House of Representatives Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Belinda Bello would no longer be called to testify, saying their planned testimonies had become “totally unnecessary, redundant and a surplusage” after earlier witnesses had already covered the same matters.
Defense spokesperson Michael Poa admitted the move caught their legal team by surprise.
“We honestly did not expect it, but that was the prerogative of the prosecution,” Poa told reporters. “Maganda para sa lahat… na at least nabawasan na yung mga witness.”
Poa said the defense is likewise prepared to trim its own list of witnesses if it finds that some testimonies would merely duplicate evidence already presented before the impeachment court.
“The defense is always reasonable. Kung kaya namin yun gawin sa panig namin sa pagpresenta ng ebidensya, gagawin namin,” he said. “All parties involved are hoping na hindi tatagal ng ganoong katagal ang paglilitis.”
He explained that it is standard legal practice to initially include more witnesses than those who eventually take the stand.
“Atty. Kapunan articulated it well. Sa tingin niya magiging repetition lang, repetitive lang,” Poa said.
“Hindi din naman malayo na mangyari on the part of the defense na kapag tingin namin corroborrative… maaring magbawas na kami,” he added.
Poa also confirmed that Lopez is not part of the defense’s witness lineup because her testimony is not considered necessary at this stage of its legal strategy.
“Hindi namin siya nailista. Titingnan muna natin kung kinakailangan talaga,” he said.
He added that the defense still has reserve witnesses from the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President should the need arise during the trial.
“There are reserved witnesses from Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President so we will just determine kung kinakailangan ba,” he said. “There is always that possibility although ayoko pangunahan.”
Lopez was originally scheduled to testify on July 14, but her appearance was deferred after prolonged questioning of National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc extended that day’s proceedings.
Poa also welcomed the active participation of senator-judges, saying their questions have provided useful insights for both the prosecution and the defense as the impeachment trial continues.
“All of the points raised by the sen judges are helpful. We think that the raising points to either support or question the credibility… You get insights on what really happened,” he said.
“Regardless of the nature of the comments posed by the senator judges, these would also help us for the next witnesses to come,” he added./PN
