Senate Impeachment Court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol said Friday, October 2, that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is among the common witnesses listed by both the prosecution and defense in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Tongol clarified during a press conference that the prosecution had requested a subpoena for Trillanes last week, but the subpoena was not issued because his name was not included in the list of witnesses that the prosecution indicated it planned to present for the week.
According to Tongol, the Presiding Officer had asked House Prosecutor, Rep. Terry Ridon, to identify the witnesses the prosecution intended to present, but Trillanes was not among the names given at the time.
When the prosecution later indicated that it might present Trillanes as a witness on Wednesday, the Presiding Officer explained that there was no longer enough time to issue a subpoena for the following day.
“Pero pwede nyo naman iupo siya voluntarily,” Tongol said, quoting the Presiding Officer’s guidance.
Tongol said the Presiding Officer also cautioned that presenting Trillanes at that point could be premature because the purpose stated in the prosecution’s request for a subpoena was for the former senator to help identify bank records that had been presented during the impeachment proceedings.
At that time, however, no bank records had yet been presented, Tongol explained.
He stressed that the impeachment court was not preventing Trillanes from testifying and remained ready to receive his testimony.
“Walang pagpipigil po dahil ready naman po ang impeachment court para dun sa kanyang mga testimonya,” Tongol said.
Tongol also clarified that Trillanes is formally included among the common witnesses of the prosecution and the respondent’s counsel.
He identified the common witnesses listed in the parties’ trial order as Ramil Madriaga, Marivic Pareja, Melvin Matibag, Caroline Pitoy, Marizza Grande, Gloria Camora of the Commission on Audit, Amenah Pangandaman, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Benaventura, Antonio Trillanes IV, Atty. Gerardo Del Rosario of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Gloria Jumamil-Mercado.
The inclusion of Trillanes as a common witness means his testimony may also be presented by the defense during its allotted period.
Tongol confirmed that witnesses who have already testified for the prosecution may still be called by the defense because they are included in the common-witness list.
“Tama po yun. Nakalista po sila. Kasama sila dun sa 30 days na hiningi ng Respondents Council na mga araw para ipresenta itong mga witnesses na ito,” Tongol said.
The clarification comes as the impeachment court prepares for the defense’s presentation of witnesses and evidence, with the respondent’s counsel having requested 30 days for its portion of the proceedings.
