Luistro seeks Sara trial closure before Christmas

Lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro acknowledged that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could stretch into December, even as she said it could conclude by November if the defense uses only about 10 full trial days to present its evidence.

The contrasting timelines have put the pace of the proceedings under scrutiny. The prosecution used 39 trial days before dropping three of the four articles of impeachment, while Luistro now expects the defense to need far fewer days to answer the remaining charge.

The prosecution had requested 62 trial days to present its evidence. On 13 October, the 39th day of the proceedings, it announced that it would pursue only Article II, which concerns alleged unexplained wealth.

It still has to submit its formal offer of evidence, for which Senate President Francis Escudero, the presiding officer, gave it 10 days.

Luistro explained the trial could extend into December if the presentation of documents and witnesses required more time.

“But at any rate, we are all hoping and praying that the impeachment trial would end before Christmas so that we can have closure, and we can all move on,” she said.

The impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on 9 November, when the defense will formally begin presenting its evidence.

Duterte’s lawyers have yet to formally disclose how many days they need to present their case. Luistro said prosecutors expected the defense to use far fewer than the 30 trial days it had previously requested when all four articles were still being pursued.

“It is possible that this could be finished before the end of November,” she said. “They would be asking for 10 trial days, and these are all full days.”

One left

In a 25 October interview, Luistro was quoted as saying the defense was asking for eight trial days. Separately, one report said the defense had 26 days from 9 November.

The remaining article concerns alleged unexplained wealth involving the financial accounts and assets of Duterte and her husband, Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.

During the proceedings, financial forensic expert Atty. Alexander Cabrera presented findings that the couple had P817.87 million in allegedly undeclared assets and unexplained wealth, based on a review of their financial accounts and business interests.

On the second day of his testimony, 12 October, Cabrera said the figure could reach P1.5 billion if P475 million in confidential funds and other questioned transactions were included.

Prosecutors maintained that withdrawing the three other articles was part of their legal strategy and an effort to expedite the proceedings.

The Senate impeachment court approved the withdrawal in a decision promulgated on 13 October, lifting the sub judice restrictions on Articles I, III and IV.