The defense team for Vice President Sara Duterte decided on Thursday, November 12, to drop a Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) lawyer from its witness list during her impeachment trial, stating that his testimony is no longer required.
Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson and member of the Vice President’s legal team, informed the Senate impeachment court that Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael will no longer be called to the stand.
Ysmael was originally scheduled to authenticate a letter submitted as evidence, but Poa noted that he already admitted during an earlier hearing to authoring the document himself.
”After evaluation of the defense team, we would like to manifest that we will already dispense with this witness from BPI, specifically Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael,” Poa said.
Poa added that the document is already officially marked as Defense Exhibit D-2-190-BPI.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero confirmed that the letter remains part of the court’s official records.
Meanwhile, Atty. James Bryan Ibrahim Alih of the private prosecution panel expressed reservations, noting that the subpoenaed records contain details the prosecution intended to cross-examine.
He inquired whether the prosecution could highlight specific sections of the files despite Ysmael’s absence.
Escudero responded that the prosecution can address the matter later through memoranda, closing remarks, or a tender of excluded evidence after both sides conclude presenting their evidence. He also underscored that the court respects the defense’s prerogative regarding its witness strategy.