The House prosecution panel will no longer present Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez and House Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Capt. Belinda Bello as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan said their testimonies are no longer necessary, as the information the panel intended to obtain from the two witnesses had already been covered by previous testimonies and statements from the defense.

“It is the wisdom of the public prosecutors as expressed through this representation that we find it totally unnecessary, redundant, and a Surplusage to still present Attorney Zuleika Lopez and as well Captain Belinda Bello,” Kapunan said.

Kapunan explained that details they sought from Lopez had already been provided by earlier witnesses and the defense counsel, while Bello’s testimony would only serve as corroborative information.

The prosecution’s decision removes Lopez and Bello from the list of witnesses scheduled to testify before the Senate impeachment court.