FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Tuesday he is ready to testify in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as House prosecutors present evidence under Article II of the impeachment complaint, which covers allegations involving unexplained wealth and undeclared assets.
Trillanes is among the witnesses sought by the prosecution and is expected to testify on allegations concerning Duterte’s acquisition of funds and financial transactions.
The prosecution had asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Trillanes, but no subpoena had been issued as of Tuesday.
“The purpose of the subpoena is if you have to be compelled to attend, but me, I am willing and ready, so even if they don’t issue a subpoena, I’m ready to be presented,” Trillanes told reporters at the Senate.
Trillanes’ comments came as the Senate impeachment court heard the testimony of Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who had been subpoenaed in connection with questions surrounding Vice President Duterte’s declared business interest in a company that won contracts from the Davao City government.
Trillanes said his presence at the Senate on the same day as Mayor Duterte’s testimony was coincidental.
“In case he didn’t appear, I would be the witness presented. That’s all there is to it. It’s just a coincidence,” he said.
After Mayor Duterte was excused from the witness stand, House prosecutors asked the Senate impeachment court to allow Trillanes to testify the following day.
The defense objected, citing the prosecution’s late change in the order of its witnesses.
Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said the prosecution’s motion indicated that Trillanes would testify about Sara Duterte’s funds and bank accounts.
He pointed out, however, that the prosecution had yet to present the bank accounts that would form the basis of that testimony.
Escudero declined to issue a subpoena to Trillanes at that time, saying “the cart cannot be put ahead of the horse” and that bank records or testimony from an Anti-Money Laundering Council witness should come first.
He clarified, however, that the ruling did not prevent the prosecution from calling Trillanes voluntarily.
Earlier this year, Trillanes submitted a sworn affidavit to a House investigating panel alleging that former president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, received more than P181 million in funds from Davao businessman and alleged drug lord Samuel Uy between 2011 and 2013.
Trillanes also previously raised allegations involving bank accounts and financial transactions that he linked to Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio and other members of the Duterte family.
The allegations have been denied by Vice President Duterte, who accused Trillanes of “peddling the same incredible story about alleged billions in bank accounts.” Public prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon said that the prosecution intended to present the AMLC and bank executives first, but had been awaiting a court ruling issued earlier that day.
“We would have wanted to present the banks in the soonest time, but the matter relating to the admission has only been resolved today. The earliest we can request a subpoena is actually on Friday,” he said.
Ridon was referring to the prosecution’s request for Duterte to admit 104 matters regarding her and her spouse’s financial records and personal circumstances.
The court denied the request, citing the vice president’s right against self-incrimination.
Duterte, through counsel, objected to the request on Sept. 23 and asked that it be expunged. She argued that Rule 26 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure does not apply to impeachment proceedings because it could shift the prosecution’s burden of proof and circumvent her constitutional protection against self-incrimination.
The prosecution later said it was willing to withdraw the request and instead seek stipulations, but the court noted that stipulations require the parties’ agreement and cannot be compelled.
