Impeachment court summons 2 ex-Landbank managers for July 29 Sara Duterte trial

The Senate impeachment court has approved the issuance of new subpoenas for two former branch managers of Land Bank of the Philippines to appear on the resumption of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next Wednesday, July 29.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced this on Day 9 of the trial, ordering the clerk of court to issue a subpoena to former Landbank Shaw Boulevard branch manager Violeta Constantino and former Landbank DepEd branch manager Nenita Camposano.

They are set to be presented by the House prosecution panel in the trial to testify on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds—P500 million from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million from the Department of Education.

House Lead Prosecutor Gerville Luistro said that Constantino will be presented first, followed by Camposano.

Asked by Defense counsel Mark Vinluan if more than one witness will be presented next Wednesday, Escudero answered, “We will be issuing the subpoena for both, in case.”

“I have no idea if it’s going to be a short direct and cross and/or re-cross. So we shall see. Kindly prepare for the two witnesses on that day,” Escudero told the Defense panel.

The court on Tuesday, July 21, recalled the subpoenas issued to the two former LandBank representatives as the cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag continued Wednesday, July 22.

The trial will resume on July 29, at 10 a.m., following the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 27, and the so-called “Kontra-SONA” of minority senators the day after. –NB, GMA News