House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro on Saturday confirmed that forensic financial analyst Atty. Alexander Cabrera will be the prosecution’s last witness for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, which covers allegations of unexplained wealth.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum, Luistro clarified that the prosecution’s presentation of evidence for Article II will conclude with Cabrera, who testified on Friday.
“I wish to formally announce that Atty. Alex Cabrera is the last witness of the prosecution for unexplained wealth. Ito po ay na-manifest na rin kahapon ng ating distinguished colleague, in the person of honorable Chel Diokno,” Luistro said.
“Just to put clarity and to give guidance to our beloved countrymen, kay Atty. Alex Cabrera magtatapos ang presentation of evidence ng prosecution for unexplained wealth, that is Article II of the Articles of Impeachment,” she added.
Luistro said the prosecution will proceed with the continuation of Cabrera’s examination next week, followed by cross-examination by the defense panel.
The prosecution may conduct redirect examination and the defense may then undertake recross-examination, depending on the issues raised during the proceedings.
“For this coming week, we will be proceeding to the continuation of the examination of Atty Alex Cabrera,” Lustro said.
Luistro expressed confidence in Cabrera’s testimony, describing the expert witness’s presentation as strong.
“There will be cross examination to be done by the defense, and then kung mayroon silang ma-establish which we believe otherwise dahil napakatibay ng naging testimonya ng ating expert witness. But on the assumption only then we will be conducting as well , redirect examination and after redirect there will be recross examination,” she said.
The senator-judges are also expected to raise questions about Cabrera’s financial reports on Monday, with the prosecution anticipating lengthy interpellations.
“It will be on Monday when we will be hearing the interjections of the senator-judges, which we anticipate will be reasonably lengthy because very interesting iyong financial report ng ating expert witness,” a member of the prosecution team said.
Meanwhile, Luistro said the prosecution has completed its presentation of evidence on the other impeachment allegations, including grave threats and betrayal of public trust over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The prosecution has also announced that it will no longer present evidence for Article III or bribery, which covers allegations of bribery involving Department of Education officials. House prosecutor Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores earlier announced the decision to drop the bribery allegations from the prosecution’s presentation.
