FORMER Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV is expected to identify individuals allegedly linked to the source of funds in financial transactions when he testifies in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial, as House prosecutors weigh whether to present him before or after the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of
Lanao del Sur said Trillanes’ testimony is expected to go beyond financial records and cover individuals he had previously identified during proceedings before the House Committee on Justice.
“But I think Senator Trillanes would also be testifying as to who would be the source of these funds. Kasama po ’yon,” Alonto Adiong said at a press briefing Wednesday.
He said Trillanes had already mentioned certain individuals during the House proceedings and prosecutors expect those names to form part of his testimony before the Senate impeachment court.
“I think if you go back to the transcript of the Committee on Justice confirmation hearing, Senator Trillanes actually made mention about certain individuals,” Alonto Adiong said.
“And that’s actually according to his list. So we would expect na ’yun ang parte sa magiging testimony niya,” he added.
The prosecution has been presenting evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which covers allegations involving Duterte’s unexplained wealth, financial transactions, business interests and declarations in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Alonto Adiong said Trillanes’ testimony could complement documentary evidence involving bank accounts and AMLC records by providing information on the alleged sources behind the transactions.
“As to your question whether may banggaan, I think it can actually—either way—it can actually strengthen the documents and the evidence that will be presented in relation to these bank accounts and to the AMLC,” he said.
The prosecution, however, is considering whether AMLC officials should take the witness stand first following concerns raised by senator-judges over the logical sequence of presenting financial evidence.
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon acknowledged that an AMLC-first sequence could make sense if Trillanes’ testimony deals specifically with bank accounts.
“I think tama rin naman po ’yung binabanggit ng senator-judges, ’yung logical sequencing, particularly on the banks, mas akma kung mauuna po AMLC, if specific to ’yung bank accounts na alam po ni Senator Trillanes ’yung pag-uusapan,” Ridon said.
But Ridon said there are also reasons to present Trillanes first because his testimony will extend beyond bank accounts and matters previously taken up by the House justice committee.
“He will also be talking about non-House Justice Committee proceedings matters,” Ridon said.
“I think there is every reason for Senator Trillanes to actually be placed first in the list,” he added.
Still, Ridon said prosecutors are prepared to consider reversing the sequence if the impeachment court considers it important to hear directly from the AMLC before Trillanes discusses bank account-related matters.
“If it is a real concern of the Senate impeachment court that they would want to see AMLC first para isang salang na lang, ’di ba, at magkaroon ng logical sequencing ’yung bank accounts-specific testimony, then it is something that we will consider today,” he said.
Ridon stressed that Trillanes remains on the prosecution’s witness list and that the prosecution ultimately determines the order in which its witnesses are presented.
“Sa dulo-dulo naman ho, ’yung magpapasya doon sa sequencing, ’yung prosecution naman po talaga,” he said.
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