Sara Duterte impeachment trial Day 4: What to expect

New faces expected to appear as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues on Monday, July 13.

Senate Secretary General Renato Bantug Jr. said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Bangsamoro regional director Jeremy Lotoc will testify for the first time as one of the prosecution’s witness.

He is expected to testify on Impeachment Article IV, which details the alleged grave threat and assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Bantug said he has no information on whether NBI Director Melvin Matibag will be able to take the stand.

Meanwhile, according to Bantug, Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, is expected to testify on Tuesday, July 14.

Lopez was issued a subpoena, compelling her to appear before the court on July 13 and July 14 to provide "material testimony" in relation to the Vice President's impeachment case.

“Sa subpoena na ating na-serve kay Atty. Lotoc, kay Atty. Lopez, ‘yan naman nakalagay doon dalawang araw, no?” he said on Super Radyo dzBB.

(In the subpoenas we served on Atty. Lotoc and Atty. Lopez, it states that they are to appear over two days, doesn’t it?)

“So ang alam ko parang ang gusto mangyari ni Senator Ping, at tama naman, ‘yung dalawang witness, for example, nandyan na siya ngayong araw pa lang nito para kung sakaling matapos po ‘yung isa, makakasunod agad ‘yung isang testigo,” he added.

(So as I understand it, what Senator Ping wants, which is reasonable, is for both witnesses to already be present that day so that if one witness finishes testifying, the other can immediately take the stand.)

Bantug also said that it may not be possible for two witnesses to testify on the same day.

“Kasi medyo masusi pa ‘yung pag direct, ‘yung cross examination. But sabi nga ng ating presiding officer, in due time siguro bibilis ‘yung pacing nung trial. Baka sa simula lang,” he added.

(Because the direct examination and the cross-examination are still quite thorough. But as our presiding officer said, the pace of the trial will probably pick up in due time. It may just be slow at the beginning.) — RSJ, GMA News