Senate issues subpoenas for witnesses in P612.5M confidential funds allegations

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday ordered the issuance of subpoenas to four witnesses expected to testify on allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte improperly used P612.5 million in confidential funds.

During the sixth day of the impeachment trial, Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero approved subpoenas ad testificandum, requiring witnesses to appear and testify, as well as subpoenas duces tecum directing them to bring relevant documents for hearings scheduled on July 21 and 22.

Those ordered to appear are House Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service Director Marivic Pareja, former Land Bank Shaw Boulevard branch manager Violeta Constantino, and former Land Bank Department of Education branch manager Nenita Camposano.

The impeachment court also granted a subpoena duces tecum to Land Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette Ortiz, requiring the production of documents related to the same proceedings.

The witnesses are expected to testify on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of misusing P500 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education.

Lead House prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro likewise informed the court that National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will take the witness stand on Tuesday, July 21, instead of Monday, July 20.

The scheduling update came after the senator-judges opted to defer until Monday a ruling on the prosecution's request to subpoena the Vice President's bank and tax records, as well as those of her husband, Manases Carpio.

Matibag is expected to serve as the prosecution's final witness for Article IV, which deals with allegations that Duterte made grave threats and was involved in an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Earlier, the House prosecution panel also pared down its list of witnesses for Article IV, saying the evidence already presented is sufficient to support that portion of its case.