House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima indicated on Friday, July 10, that Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez could face intense questioning if the Senate impeachment court officially designates her as a “hostile witness.”
De Lima explained that a witness is declared hostile when they are expected to be uncooperative or biased against the party that summoned them.
Pointing to Lopez’s deep-rooted professional ties with Vice President Sara Duterte—having served as her chief administrator during Duterte’s tenure as Davao City mayor before becoming her OVP chief of staff—De Lima emphasized that Lopez’s allegiance naturally lies with the defense.
“Ang ibig sabihin ng hostile witness, hindi ka nga nakakasiguro o alam mo na hindi siya magiging cooperative. Adverse siya. Because of the position that she’s holding, her connection to the respondent, siya ‘yong long time aide and then siya na ang chief of staff noong mayor pa lang si VP Sara, nandoon na siya, she was the chief administrator,” De Lima stated.
She further noted, “You can expect that she will be hostile, she will not be cooperative, she will not [espouse] the cause of the prosecution but rather the cause of the defense, kaya ituturing siyang hostile.”
Securing this classification requires a formal procedure during the initial phase of the testimony. Prosecutors must first demonstrate the witness’s antagonistic stance through a series of preliminary questions before the court grants the hostile status.
“Pero may proseso. Kailangan talagang i-establish muna kung bakit siya hostile. Kasama ‘yan sa line of questioning sa mga preliminary questions na tatanungin noong handling prosecutor,” she explained.
The designation alters the standard rules of interrogation. While leading questions are strictly barred during a standard direct examination, they become legally permissible once the court formally recognizes a witness as hostile, preventing the defense from blocking the inquiries with objections.
“Kasi normally, ordinarily if the witness is not hostile, hindi puwede ‘yong leading. Kasi sa direct testimony and cross examination, bawal ang leading. Pero kapag na-established na at mapayagan na hostile, kasi it would need the clearance of the Court to really consider her as hostile, after you make the preliminary questions as to her status and as a hostile witness, ay puwede kang magtanong ng leading basta madali kasing magtanong… hindi ‘yan magiging objectionable,” she said.
De Lima underscored that this tactical shift will allow the prosecution panel to squeeze vital information from the witness more efficiently.
“Mas magigisa, mas madali ang pagtatanong, mas mali-lead mo talaga siya doon sa punto na dapat i-establish ng prosecution,” she added.
Atty. Lopez is set to take the witness stand on Tuesday, July 14, following a subpoena ad testificandum issued by the impeachment court.