(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution at the House of Representatives will no longer present former senator Antonio Trillanes IV as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said Thursday.
Luistro made the announcement during the 32nd day of the Senate impeachment court’s proceedings on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte.
"The prosecution has finally decided not to present former senator Sonny Trillanes. We seek the kind indulgence of the honorable impeachment court for the belated final position on this particular concern," she said.
The decision came after Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo suggested that Trillanes be presented before officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), saying the former senator’s testimony on bank account information could provide context to the AMLC’s testimony.
The prosecution had previously identified Trillanes as a potential witness on Article II and sought to have him subpoenaed to testify about financial information and allegations he had raised during the House proceedings.
Trillanes had alleged during the House proceedings that members of the Duterte family received or encashed millions of pesos worth of checks allegedly linked to a Davao-based drug personality.
Following the prosecution's announcement, Trillanes said he had asked the House prosecution through Luistro, to withdraw his name as a witness to ease the pressure on the panel.
“Earlier in the day, I requested the House prosecution under Chair[man] Jinky Luistro to formally withdraw my name as a witness for the prosecution. This way, the prosecution panel would be relieved from the pressure it is going through,” Trillanes said.
“Having said that, I will hold a press conference tomorrow to present everything I was supposed to disclose during the impeachment trial,” he added.
Trillanes had been identified as one of the witnesses expected to testify before the Senate impeachment court on financial information and allegations he raised during the House proceedings.
During the House proceedings, Trillanes alleged that members of the Duterte family received or encashed millions of pesos worth of checks allegedly linked to a Davao-based drug personality.
