House touts ‘explosive’ Trillanes tale vs VP

The House prosecution panel has submitted its list of witnesses for next week’s presentation on the alleged unexplained wealth of Vice President Sara Duterte, public prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon said Thursday.

The panel requested subpoenas for retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Ombudsman Records Division officer-in-charge Atty. Karen Batu and Securities and Exchange Commission official Atty. Gerardo del Rosario.

“We had submitted already our request to subpoena these three personalities for next week. So we will wait for the order so they can be subpoenaed,” Ridon said.

Cabotaje-Tang is expected to testify on principles involving the accountability and integrity of public officials. Batu is expected to present Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, while Del Rosario will discuss information on companies allegedly linked to Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio.

Ridon said prosecutors were still marking about 1,800 financial documents from the couple’s joint accounts, including tax records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“Hopefully by Monday, we are fully prepared with our documentary evidence and presentation of witnesses,” he said.

Trillanes coming

The prosecution panel earlier said it had 25 potential witnesses for Article II, including officials from various government agencies.

Among them is former Senator Antonio Trillanes, who testified during the House Committee on Justice’s determination of probable cause on the impeachment complaints.

Trillanes presented a judicial affidavit containing records concerning the wealth of the Duterte family, some of which were cross-checked with Anti-Money Laundering Council reports.

“I don’t want to get ahead of the team on who and the order of its presentation of witnesses, but Trillanes is coming,” House Deputy Speaker Rep. Paolo Ortega said.

Ortega described Trillanes’ expected testimony as “explosive” and “exciting.” Prosecutors may also call Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to testify.

Prosecutors had earlier considered dropping the bribery charge, but lead public prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro told the impeachment court Monday that they would retain it and present it last.

“Only that unexplained wealth will be advanced, and it will be followed, and we’ll end on bribery,” Luistro told presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.