Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo on Thursday admonished the prosecution panel over what he described as lapses in presenting witnesses during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Tulfo made the remarks after the prosecution said it would first present the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Thursday afternoon and would later announce when it would call former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to testify.
Tulfo objected to the arrangement and suggested that Trillanes be presented first before the AMLC official so the prosecution could first confirm the details that the former senator would provide to the agency.
“Kung minsan yung prosecution pumapalpak-palpak kayo. There are times na naglalagay kayo ng mga witnesses dito na hindi naman kailangan talaga. Nagsasayang lang tayo ng oras,” Tulfo said.
He also criticized the prosecution for presenting witnesses whose testimonies, he said, did not appear to contribute substantially to the proceedings.
“Nakikita naman yung mga senador inaantok. Yung iba panay ang punta ng CR kasi wala eh, parang useless eh,” he said.
Tulfo urged the prosecution to carefully assess its witnesses before presenting them before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
“So, kukuha kayo ng witness, make sure na yung witness na yun ay mayroong masasabing bagay na makatutulong sa ginagawang imbestigasyon dito sa impeachment,” he said.
Tulfo also referred to a previous witness presentation that he said had drawn laughter, apparently referring to the prosecution’s direct examination of police officer PMaj. Jerickson Sangalang on Sept. 28.
“Meron pa nga kayong ginawa na pinagtatawanan tuloy nagpapa-cute lang habang may kinakausap na witness na police,” Tulfo said.
He was seemingly referring to House prosecutor Rep. Bel Zamora, who conducted the direct examination of Sangalang, who presented documents concerning firearms owned by Duterte and her husband, Mans Carpio.
Zamora subsequently faced misogynistic remarks online over her manner of questioning during the proceedings.
Tulfo said the prosecution should also be cautious in selecting the lawyers who would conduct the examination of witnesses.
“So, ingat kayo sa pagkukuha ng mga witness at ingat kayo sa pagsasalang ng mga abogado,” he said.
