THE House prosecution panel increased its list of potential witnesses from 25 to 57 in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to ensure that all relevant evidence can be presented before the Senate impeachment court, lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said Tuesday.
“We became very conscious about the rule that witnesses and exhibits which are not marked or presented during pre-trial cannot be presented during trial. Ibig sabihin, nagsigurado na kami,” Luistro said in an interview with radio dzBB.
Luistro said the prosecution panel included all possible witnesses and documentary evidence that may be relevant to the four Articles of Impeachment in the pre-trial brief it submitted on Monday.
While declining to discuss reports of alleged new evidence against Duterte, Luistro confirmed that the panel had finalized its list of potential witnesses.
“As to the number of witnesses, the final number is 57,” Luistro said.
The prosecution had earlier indicated it was preparing around 25 witnesses. Luistro said the list grew after prosecutors opted to include every witness and piece of evidence that could potentially be presented during trial.
“So we included every piece of evidence na alam namin may relevance whatsoever dito sa impeachment, Articles of Impeachment,” she said.
She explained that impeachment rules prohibit the presentation of witnesses and exhibits that were not identified and marked during pre-trial proceedings.
“Hindi pwede. Bawal ang surprise witnesses. That is why lahat ng ebidensya dapat mamarkahan during pre-trial,” Luistro said.
“Otherwise, kung hindi mo ‘yan namarkahan, hindi mo nasamang pangalan, wala kang reservation, they will not be allowed to be presented during the trial.”
Despite listing 57 witnesses, Luistro said the prosecution has yet to decide how many will actually take the stand once trial proceedings begin on July 6.
“But of course it is the discretion of the prosecution kung ‘yan bang 57 na ‘yan, in total number ay ipre-present lahat during the trial. The discretion is with us,” she said.
Among the four Articles of Impeachment, Luistro said the article involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds accounts for the largest number of witnesses because of the volume of supporting documents that must be formally identified through testimony.
Luistro added that any evidence the prosecution intends to present during trial should already be reflected in the pre-trial brief.
She noted that details contained in the pre-trial brief will eventually become public as part of the impeachment proceedings.
The House prosecution panel submitted its 57-page pre-trial brief, including its list of witnesses and documentary evidence, to the Senate impeachment court on Monday ahead of the June 18 pre-trial conference.
House prosecutors have repeatedly maintained that they are prepared to present evidence supporting all four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, which include allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against the country’s top officials.
