Bicol Saro Party-list Representative and House prosecution panel member Terry Ridon has advised Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team to field more credible witnesses following frustration over recent testimonies in the Senate impeachment trial.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 10—marking Day 41 of the trial and the second day of the defense’s presentation—Ridon criticized the first two witnesses put forward by the defense for appearing evasive and uncooperative during cross-examination.
“Sa loob po ng dalawang araw, iyung dalawa sa tatlong testigo ay parang nilalaro lang ang Senate impeachment court. Yung nauna, ayaw sumagot. Yung pangalawa, ayaw din sumagot. Yung nauna, parang nagsisinungaling. Yung pangalawa, parang din nagsisinungaling,” Ridon noted.
Ridon added that several senator-judges expressed irritation over the witnesses’ repeated claims of memory lapses regarding basic details, such as recognizing their own signatures, which raised discussions about potentially holding them in contempt.
“Moving forward, we are expecting the next couple of days na dapat ayusin naman ng depensa yung kanilang presentasyon ng ebidensya,” he said.
“I don’t think it serves the side of the Vice President pagka ganito yung tipo ng mga testigong inilalahad nila. So, moving forward, hopefully on Wednesday up until Friday, mas maayos yung mga defense witnesses na iprepresenta,” he added.
Private prosecution panel member Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. echoed these concerns, pointing out that the witnesses failed to provide direct answers to simple inquiries.
“Mukhang hindi nagiging forthright. Mga simple questions hindi masagot. I think it was Senator [Lito] Lapid who have mentioned pati birthday mo, parang nakalimutan mo na,” Tolosa said.
“I’m sure the senator-judges will take all of this into consideration, in determining the credibility of the witnesses presented by the defense, as well as the ones that we presented, the hostile witnesses na connected to the VP, working under her,” he added.
Tolosa stated that the prosecution is leaving it up to the impeachment court to weigh the testimonies and determine the credibility of all presented witnesses.