Prosecution abandons plan to call Vice President Sara Duterte as witness
The impeachment prosecutors have decided not to summon Vice President Sara Duterte to testify, saying existing financial documents are sufficient.
In Manila, the legal team handling Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment has dropped its earlier intention to call her as a witness. Prosecutors said the bank records and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth submitted by Duterte provide enough proof, making her direct testimony unnecessary. They also warned that forcing her to speak would waste the court's time if she simply denies knowledge.
Defense counsel argued that the VP cannot be compelled to testify under the constitution and that her lawyers are already representing her. The case still aims to remove Duterte from office for alleged betrayal of public trust, misuse of funds, threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., unexplained wealth, and other impeachable offenses, after eliminating the bribery allegation to accelerate the trial. The final witness, forensic analyst Alexander Cabrera, is scheduled to be examined on Monday.
Why it matters
The decision shapes the impeachment timeline and highlights how financial evidence is being used to pursue the Vice President's removal.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps note the prosecution dropped plans to call Vice President Duterte, but center coverage adds a critical prosecutor quote suggesting her testimony would be useless, whereas left-leaning coverage emphasizes the sufficiency of documentary evidence and constitutional limits.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage frames the abandonment as a procedural decision based on sufficient documentary evidence and constitutional protections.
CENTER
Center coverage frames the abandonment as a pragmatic move to avoid a futile testimony that would not enlighten the court or public.
The left emphasises
- bank records and SALN provide enough proof
- forcing her to speak would waste the court's time
- VP cannot be compelled to testify under the constitution
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