DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is set to testify Tuesday in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, after asking the Senate impeachment court for more time to prepare documents covered by a subpoena.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Monday that the court received a letter from Mayor Duterte requesting that he be allowed to appear on Sept. 29 and 30 instead of Monday.
Escudero said Mayor Duterte told the court that he needed “substantial time to gather, organize, authenticate and reproduce the subpoenaed documents.”
“The Presiding Officer grants the request of Mayor Duterte to appear tomorrow and Wednesday, which, again, is covered by the subpoena issued already, so there is no need to issue another subpoena,” Escudero ruled.
Escudero then asked House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon whether the prosecution would present Mayor Duterte on Tuesday after the testimony of Police Maj. Jerickson Sangalang, Records Division chief of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO).
“Your Honor, that is correct, Your Honor,” Ridon replied.
Mayor Duterte has been subpoenaed as the House prosecution continues presenting evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment involving the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth and business interests.
Prosecutors are expected to question the Davao City mayor about his sister’s declared business interests and Davao City transactions that could shed light on her alleged unexplained wealth.
They also intend to ask the impeachment court to declare Mayor Duterte a hostile witness when he takes the stand.
His testimony is expected to build on corporate and government records already taken up by prosecutors as they examine whether Duterte’s declared businesses and other financial interests could account for the growth in her wealth.
The prosecution will first present Sangalang before Mayor Duterte takes the witness stand Tuesday.
In another change to the prosecution’s witness lineup, Atty. Gary Samonte of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Regional Office XI will no longer be presented.
The prosecution moved to recall Samonte’s subpoena, which Escudero granted.
Samonte had earlier been lined up to testify in connection with the prosecution’s continuing presentation of evidence under the unexplained wealth charge.
metrosundaily
