Ombudsman, NBI, and AMLC to testify in VP Sara's impeachment trial —Ridon

The House prosecutor in charge of the Article of Impeachment on unexplained wealth has identified several witnesses that will be presented during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep Terry Ridon, who is the lead prosecutor for the article on unexplained wealth, said they are vetting this week the list of witnesses that they will present during the trial.

"Pasok pa rin po yung previous House proceedings resource persons. So Ombudsman, SEC, yun pong NBI for other cases. AMLC, masasalang din po ito," Ridon said in an ambush interview.

(Still included are the previous House proceedings resource person. So, Ombudsman, SEC, the NBI for other cases. AMLC, also.)

"Ang BIR, pinagpapasyahan pa po namin kung isasalang namin sa trial... It's the call of the panel kung sino po yung isasalang. Kasi kung kaya na po naming mapatunayan yung unexplained wealth, for example, SALN violations, doon po sa mga listahan na meron na po kami, we can stop at that point," Ridon added.

(We are still deciding whether to include the BIR in the trial. The panel will decide. If we can prove unexplained wealth, such as SALN violations, on the lists we have, we can stop there.)

Asked if he is confident of getting a conviction for the Article of Impeachment on unexplained wealth even without presenting the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a witness, Ridon replied, "I think we can secure a conviction on unexplained wealth. But presenting the BIR documents would corroborate much of what had been discussed in the AMLC reports. And yung bank accounts will be presented during the trial."

Whether the sealed box submitted by the BIR will be opened or not, Ridon said, "That will also undertake a voting by the Senate Impeachment Court."

The legislator also said that the final list of witnesses and evidence to be presented during the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will be made at the pre-trial stage, which is expected to happen around the middle of June.

"We're also getting volunteer, aside from the lawyers, yun pong financial experts - accountants, auditors, to look into the documents," Ridon stated.

The House Prosecution Panel is also planning to conduct a campus tour all over the country before the Senate impeachment trial starts.

"I think kasama yon doon sa mga plano, umikot po sa mga paralan. And I'd like to make the point na actually, parang ito pong inabot na public interest sa impeachment trial ngayon ay katulad noong interest nung 2000-2001 Estrada impeachment trial," Ridon said.

(I think that's part of the plan, to go around the schools. And I'd like to make the point that actually, it seems like the public interest that has been reached in the impeachment trial now is similar to the interest in the 2000-2001 Estrada impeachment trial.) —VAL, GMA News