HOUSE impeachment adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers on Wednesday described the witnesses presented by Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s defense panel before the Senate impeachment court as “kumpleto sa wala,” saying their testimonies have so far been characterized by an apparent inability to remember, recall or even know the matters they were supposed to shed light on.
Barbers said the recurring responses of “walang matandaan,” “walang maalala,” “walang ma-recall” and “walang alam” have raised serious questions about the value and credibility of the defense witnesses, particularly when they are expected to clarify issues central to the impeachment proceedings.
The first three defense witnesses reported as having taken the stand are:
Engr. Jaime G. Adalin – Davao City Assessor, presented November 9.
Engr. John Kenneth Enumerables – Island Garden City of Samal Assessor, presented November 10.
Vingelin Bajan – Davao City Accountant, presented November 10.
Barbers said their testimonies dealt with disputed properties and salary records.
Notably, Enumerables said he was not certain that the Samal property he identified was the same property declared in Sara Duterte’s SALN.
Bajan, meanwhile, repeatedly said she could not recall certain matters concerning her former accounting partnership.
“Kung halos lahat ng sagot ay hindi matandaan, hindi maalala, walang ma-recall o walang alam, ano ba talaga ang maiaambag ng mga testigong ito sa paglilitis? Kumpleto sa wala ang kanilang testimonya,” Barbers said.
He stressed that the Senate impeachment court is not a stage for witnesses to deliver empty narratives or evade questions through convenient lapses of memory.
“It is a constitutional proceeding where every witness is expected to provide truthful, relevant and meaningful testimony that can help establish the facts,” Barbers said.
He added: “The Filipino people deserve answers, not a parade of witnesses whose testimonies leave more questions than answers. Hindi ito paligsahan kung sino ang pinakamaraming hindi maalala. This is an impeachment trial, not a memory test.”
He added that the defense panel should explain how witnesses who profess little or no knowledge of the matters being investigated could meaningfully rebut the prosecution’s evidence and allegations involving alleged unexplained wealth, questionable financial transactions and other issues raised in the articles of impeachment.
Barbers, former Surigao del Norte congressman and governor, emphasized that the prosecution’s evidence cannot simply be wished away by presenting witnesses who appear unable or unwilling to address the substance of the allegations.
What matters, he said, is whether the defense can directly confront the documents, financial records and factual questions placed before the impeachment court.
“At the end of the day, this trial is about accountability and the truth. The defense can bring in as many witnesses as it wants, but if their testimonies are empty of facts, explanations and answers, they will not erase the evidence that the prosecution has presented. The Filipino people are watching, and they deserve more than ‘wala akong maalala’ as an answer to serious allegations,” he said.
metrosundaily
