Surprise witnesses allowed in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines – The presentation of surprise witnesses is still possible during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, despite the prior submission of a list of witnesses by the prosecution and defense  teams.

This was according to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, who serves as clerk of court in the impeachment trial of the vice president.

“Both parties have the right to make reservations as to witnesses that may not be available yet during pre-trial. And they would have to inform the parties of the calling of such witnesses at least three days before the scheduled appearance,” Bantug told reporters before the resumption of the pre-trial conference on Monday.

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“So that’s allowed in the rules of court. That’s also allowed here in the impeachment court,” he said.

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A summary of witnesses was among those submitted by the parties in their pre-trial briefs.

At the start of the pre-trial conference on June 18, the impeachment court completed the marking of documentary  evidence for two of four articles of impeachment—  Article III and IV.

Article III pertains to allegations that she bribed Department of Education officials to circumvent procurement  laws while Article IV  refers to her alleged threat to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The marking of documentary evidence for Articles I and II is expected to be finished this Monday, according to Bantug.

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Article I covers Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds while  Article  II refers to her alleged  unexplained wealth.

“Hopefully, we get to  finish it within the day  so that we can start  working on the pre-trial order,” he said.

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Upon the completion of the pre-trial conference, Bantug said they would review the transcripts and the markings of documentary evidence before drafting the pre-trial order for submission to the impeachment court.

He said he is planning to submit the pre-order by Thursday,  June 25.

Based on the guidelines for the conduct of the  pre-trial conference, the pre-trial order  “shall bind the parties, limit the trial to matters not disposed of, and control the subsequent course of the proceedings.”

“No deviation therefrom shall be permitted without leave of the Impeachment Court,” it said.

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The trial proper is set to start on July 6. /gsg