Prosecution drops Trillanes, lines up BIR, banks as witnesses

MANILA – The House prosecution on Thursday dropped former senator Antonio Trillanes IV from its witness list and mapped out a financial-records-heavy stretch of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial involving tax authorities, seven banks and several insurance and financial firms.

Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro informed the Senate impeachment court that the prosecution had reached its “final” decision not to present Trillanes, whose possible testimony had earlier been considered for the proceedings.

“We have finally decided not to present former Senator Sonny Trillanes. We seek the kind indulgence of the Honorable Impeachment Court for the belated final position on this particular concern,” Luistro said.

Trillanes had earlier been considered as a prosecution witness, but Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero did not issue a subpoena compelling him to appear during Thursday’s proceedings.

Instead, the prosecution laid down the sequence of witnesses it intends to present as the trial continues tackling Article II, which covers allegations involving Duterte’s assets, liabilities, net worth and business interests.

Luistro said the prosecution expects Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura to continue his testimony on Friday.

“We lament, Your Honor, that we have no other witness to be presented tomorrow,” she said, adding that the prosecution may seek deferment of the proceedings if Buenaventura finishes early.

Escudero confirmed that the AMLC chief would be the prosecution’s lone scheduled witness for Friday. The prosecution will then turn to the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Oct. 5, followed by representatives of banks and insurance and financial firms on Oct. 6.

The impeachment court granted the prosecution’s request for subpoenas duces tecum and ad testificandum covering the BIR and the financial institutions for the two hearing days.

Escudero placed the banks in the following order of presentation: Land Bank of the Philippines, Asia United Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank and BDO.

Representatives of Prudential Life, Allianz Life, FWD Life, BPI AIA Life, BDO Securities and BDO Life are expected to follow in the order stated by the prosecution.

The court had previously allowed the prosecution access to specified bank, tax and AMLC records after finding them prima facie relevant and material to Article II.

More than 1,800 bank, insurance and other financial documents had also been turned over to the impeachment court and made available to both sides for marking and review ahead of the unexplained-wealth phase of the trial.

Escudero said the subpoenas for the next batch of witnesses would cover Monday and Tuesday “to be certain that we have enough time for all of these.”

The trial is operating on a full-day schedule in early October as the Senate tries to complete more hearing days before proceedings give way to deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget. (PNA)