Luistro: Over 30 witnesses to be presented in Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines – The House prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial plans to present more than 30 witnesses, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said on Monday, as they prepare to file their pre-trial brief before the Senate.

In a media briefing, Luistro said the prosecution panel has listed the witnesses to ensure their testimony could be presented during the trial should prosecutors decide to call them.

“The witnesses are not only 25, they’re not only 30, they’re even more,” she said. “As to the exact figure and who these witnesses are, let’s wait until the pre-trial brief is filed with the impeachment court.”

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Luistro’s remarks come as the 11-member prosecution team prepares to file its pre-trial brief at the Senate on Monday, which would outline the facts of the case, the witnesses it plans to present, supporting evidence, and proposed trial dates.

The filing comes ahead of a pre-trial conference set on Thursday, where the House prosecution team and Duterte’s defense counsel are expected to resolve the following:

stipulation of facts and simplification of issues;

marking of documentary or real evidence and waiver of objections or admissions on evidence;

number and identification of witnesses;

setting of trial dates;

proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence and possible modification of the order of trial;

such other matters as will promote a fair and expeditious trial of the case.

San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, a member of the prosecution team, said they may withhold the identities of witnesses to ensure their safety until they are called to testify in the impeachment trial.

“While the general rule is that we have to list down all of the names of the witnesses that we will be presenting during trial, we are allowed to withhold certain names for security and safety purposes,” she said in the same briefing. /mcm

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