House panel to list over 30 witnesses in pre-trial brief

House prosecutors will include more than 30 witnesses in the pre-trial brief they will submit Monday for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, lead impeachment prosecutor Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro said.

“Part of the pre-trial brief, we will be submitting as well the list of our witnesses… it is more than 25. The witnesses is not only 25, it’s not only 30, it’s even more,” Luistro said in a press conference.

“As to the exact figure and who these witnesses are, let’s wait until the pre-trial brief is filed with the impeachment court today,” she added.

Luistro made the statement as the House prosecution panel gets set for the pre-trial of the Duterte impeachment on June 18.

According to Luistro, additional witnesses were included in view of the rule that witnesses and exhibits not listed in the pre-trial brief will not be allowed to be presented during trial.

She said this when asked whether the new witnesses were linked to newly discovered evidence against Duterte in relation to the Article of Impeachment on alleged unexplained wealth and non-disclosure of assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

“If before, we were trying to limit corroborative witnesses, we were selecting only the most important witnesses. We wanted to make sure that all testimony will be presented in court, and that is why we considered other witnesses whose testimony are likewise significant,” she said.

It was Bicol Saro Party-list Rep Terry Ridon who earlier disclosed that his panel of prosecutors have discovered new evidence against Duterte in relation to her alleged unexplained wealth and non-disclosure of assets in her SALN.

“Perhaps that includes also the witnesses (Ridon) is referring to in support of the allegations of unexplained wealth,” she added.

Meanwhile, prosecution member and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said certain names may be withheld for security and safety reasons.

“Regarding the bank officials, for example, it is possible that we will not yet say the names of these persons. But there will be a description of their position or the purpose of their testimony,” she said.

Luistro also said the House has always intended to include bank representatives and bank documents among the evidence to be presented by the prosecution team.

She explained that the pre-trial brief will contain a stipulation of facts that the defense may admit or deny.

“If they admit our offer for stipulation, it means it need not be proved. But if they deny our offer for stipulation, then it has to be proven during the presentation of evidence,” she said.

The pre-trial brief will also include the list of witnesses and documents to be presented during trial.

Luistro added that the prosecution team will also raise the Impeachment Court’s position on whether an open rule will be adopted during the pre-trial conference on Thursday.

“Pag sinabi nating open rule, ibig sabihin, the subject matter of cross, re-cross can go beyond what was touched during direct and re-direct,” she said.

(When we say open rule, it means the subject matter of cross and re-cross can go beyond what was touched during direct and re-direct.)

“That means open rule. Otherwise, the cross or re-cross should be confined only to subject matters that were touched during the direct examination and cross examination,” she added.

The panel earlier said it will seek clarification from the impeachment court regarding its notice that media and the public are not allowed at the June 18 pre-trial conference, but will defer to its discretion.

House impeachment team spokesperson Representative Zia Alonto Adiong also assured the public there would be no connivance.

“What I can assure the public… do not fear connivance. Just to go straight to your point. Wala pong connivance dito. Hindi po mangyayari ‘yan. Nandoon din po ang depensa,” Adiong said.

(What I can assure the public… do not fear any connivance. There is no connivance here. That will not happen. The defense is there as well.)—MCG, GMA News