Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV will no longer take the witness stand in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after the House prosecution panel withdrew its plan to present him during proceedings on allegations involving her wealth.
Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro announced the decision Thursday, the 32nd day of the Senate impeachment court’s proceedings on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment. The article includes allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte.
“The prosecution has finally decided not to present former senator Sonny Trillanes. We seek the kind indulgence of the honorable impeachment court for the belated final position on this particular concern,” Luistro told the impeachment court.
The prosecution had earlier identified Trillanes as a potential witness and sought a subpoena for him to testify on financial information and allegations he had raised during the House proceedings. The House had previously listed him among witnesses for its presentation of evidence on Article II.
The decision came after Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo suggested that Trillanes testify before officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Tulfo said Trillanes’ testimony could provide context for the AMLC’s presentation because the former senator had previously raised information involving bank accounts. He suggested that Trillanes testify first so AMLC officials could subsequently address the financial information he presented.
Trillanes later said he had asked the House prosecution panel through Luistro to withdraw his name from the witness list.
“Earlier in the day, I requested the House prosecution under Chair[man] Jinky Luistro to formally withdraw my name as a witness for the prosecution. This way, the prosecution panel would be relieved from the pressure it is going through,” Trillanes said.
He also said he would hold a press conference on Friday to present the information he had intended to disclose during the impeachment trial.
Trillanes had previously raised allegations concerning financial transactions involving members of the Duterte family during House proceedings. He alleged that members of the family received or encashed millions of pesos worth of checks that he claimed were linked to a Davao-based drug personality.
Those allegations formed part of the financial information the prosecution had intended to explore through his testimony.
The House prosecution had earlier said it was preparing extensive evidence for Article II, including financial documents and testimony from officials of agencies such as the AMLC. The article also covers allegations involving Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth and her alleged failure to divest from business interests.
With Trillanes no longer being presented, the prosecution’s case on Article II continues with evidence from government officials and records concerning the allegations before the impeachment court.
Photo courtesy of Rappler
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