THE House prosecution panel on Thursday said it is preparing to streamline its presentation of evidence on the impeachment article accusing Vice President Sara Z. Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds, even as the Senate impeachment court allotted the longest trial period for the charge.
Prosecution counsel and legal spokesperson Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the panel intends to shorten its presentation, just as it did with the grave threats article, to help speed up the impeachment trial.
“So, tulad ng ginawa namin doon sa article ng grave threats na pinaiksi namin, pinagsisikapan din naming gawin ’yun para lalong mas mapabilis ang paglilitis nito,” Tolosa said.
He said the prosecution may also dispense with witnesses whose intended testimonies would only duplicate evidence already presented.
“Pare-pareho tayo ng gusto, ng public, ng impeachment court, kami rin, na matapos itong paglilitis na ito sa mas mabilis na panahon,” Tolosa said.
Tolosa noted that the Senate impeachment court had originally allotted 30 trial days for the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on the confidential funds article, the longest among the Articles of Impeachment because of the volume of documents and financial records involved.
Despite the time allotted, he said the prosecution hopes to finish the presentation in fewer hearing days without sacrificing the strength of its evidence.
The prosecution will open its presentation on the confidential funds article with three witnesses whose subpoenas have already been issued by the Senate impeachment court.
The first to testify are former Land Bank branch managers Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano, who are expected to discuss the withdrawals made in connection with the confidential funds under scrutiny.
They will be followed by Marivic Pareja, an official of the House of Representatives, who will authenticate transcripts and video recordings from congressional hearings on the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
Tolosa said the prosecution is also preparing additional witnesses but declined to identify them or the prosecutors who will handle them, saying those details will be disclosed in accordance with the Senate impeachment rules and trial strategy.
The prosecution completed its presentation of evidence on Wednesday on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
It presented National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, and Special Agent John Mark Calilung as witnesses to support the charge.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to begin hearing the confidential funds article on July 29.
metrosundaily
