MANILA, Philippines — The withdrawal of former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV as witness in the unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte does not weaken the presentation of Article II, the prosecution team for the House of Representatives, said on Thursday.
On Day 32 of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, lead prosecutor, stressed that they were confident in the evidence they have presented and would present in the coming days.
The former lawmaker admitted to making a request to be dropped as witness, a decision that was “intimated to the prosecution team” on the same day he was expected to face the Senate Impeachment Court.
“If you wish to know further details, perhaps it would be best to ask former senator Trillanes,” Luistro said in a post-trial press conference.
Luistro likewise clarified that removing Trillanes from the panel’s list of witness was not abrupt nor a surprise move but a “continuing discussion” among the prosecutors.
"It was finalized just a while ago. If indeed they were surprised, it was finalized just a while ago. They were surprised that there was a decision, but there was a long decision already to present or not to present (Trillanes) considering the number of witnesses and voluminous records we would need to present in support of unexplained wealth," Luistro said. “We are confident in our evidence,” she added.
