House prosecution drops plan to call VP Sara Duterte as hostile witness

The House prosecution panel has abandoned its plan to call Vice President Sara Duterte as a hostile witness in her impeachment trial, with private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan citing that her testimony would yield little new information.

Kapunan noted that the prosecution expects Duterte to deny knowledge of the allegations, mirroring the response of a previous hostile witness from the Office of the Vice President.

"From everything we have heard from the defense, she is just going to say, 'Hindi ko alam' [I don't know]. That is all she is going to say on the witness stand," Kapunan said. "She is not going to enlighten the senator-judges or the public regarding her accountability for public funds, unexplained wealth, and grave threats against the President, First Lady, and former Speaker."

While acknowledging that putting Duterte on the stand would allow the prosecution to observe her demeanor, Kapunan said the predictable responses rendered the move unproductive.

"It will be good for the prosecution [if she takes the stand]. Makikita natin iyong init ng ulo niya, ang pagkalutang niya [We will see her hotheadedness and lack of focus]. But it will be an absolute waste of the prosecution’s time when the testimony is predictable," she added.

Kapunan and co-private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. noted that the defense may still choose to call Duterte as a witness, which would grant the prosecution the opportunity to cross-examine her.

"The defense would have better control over what she says and how she behaves," Kapunan explained.

-Paraluman News