Sheriff Sara Duterte struck sought as witness in impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — A court sheriff punched four times by Vice President Sara Duterte during a 2011 demolition in Davao City has been listed as a witness in her impeachment trial by the House prosecution team.

Copies of the prosecution’s pretrial brief shared with reporters on Thursday showed eight witnesses lined up for accusations that Duterte made grave threats against the president, including Abe Andres, the sheriff assaulted by Duterte while enforcing a court order to clear shanties at a contested property in Barangay Soliman in Davao City’s Agdao district.

Andres, who took four blows to his face and back from then-Davao City Mayor Duterte, was taken to the hospital after the incident.

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The sheriff’s inclusion as a witness was meant to prove that Duterte “has the tendency to inflict violence,” according to the 57-page brief, which also listed several law enforcement agents and reporters who covered her expletive-laden livestreamed briefing in November 2024 that prosecutors cited to bolster their claims that she plotted to have President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the first lady and a former House speaker killed.

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Duterte, 48, faces several claims of wrongdoing, including those accusations that she sought to have the president and his family assassinated and incited sedition against the government.

House prosecutors plan to open their case with that claim, saying they would help observers grasp the scale of alleged misconduct behind the impeachment moves against Duterte, who faces trial on corruption and constitutional violation charges as she seeks the presidency.

READ: Duterte impeachment: Lopez, ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ among witnesses sought

Besides Andres, the prosecution panel named the following witnesses to support the charge:

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House Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Belinda Bello;

NBI agent Jeremy Lotoc;

NBI agent John Mark Calilung;

NBI Director Melvin Matibag;

Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office representative;

Reuters reporter Mikhail Flores;

Former Rappler reporter Bonz Magsambol.

Reserve witnesses include:

Family member of a victim of threats

Psychiatrist

Scions of prominent political families, Marcos and Duterte ran on a joint ticket in 2022 that propelled them to landslide victories. Their fragile alliance soon frayed over policy differences, leading to a breakup that has deepened political divisions in an already polarized nation. /das

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