Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team expressed surprise and relief on Tuesday after the prosecution abruptly decided to drop two major witnesses from the ongoing impeachment trial.
At the conclusion of the trial’s fifth day, lead prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan announced that Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the Vice President’s chief of staff, and Capt. Belinda Bello of the House of Representatives Legislative Security Bureau would no longer take the stand.
Kapunan characterized their potential testimonies as “totally unnecessary, redundant and a surplusage,” asserting that prior witnesses had already adequately covered those points.
Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa admitted the development caught them off guard but noted that it would help streamline the proceedings.
”We honestly did not expect it, but that was the prerogative of the prosecution,” Poa told reporters. “Maganda para sa lahat… na at least nabawasan na yung mga witness.”
Poa indicated that the defense might adopt a similar approach to keep the trial moving efficiently.
”The defense is always reasonable. Kung kaya namin yun gawin sa panig namin sa pagpresenta ng ebidensya, gagawin namin,” he added. “All parties involved are hoping na hindi tatagal ng ganoong katagal ang paglilitis.”
Framing the prosecution’s move as a standard litigation strategy, Poa explained that legal teams often list numerous potential witnesses in pre-trial briefs to maintain flexibility. Regarding the decision to bypass Lopez, he observed:
”Atty. Kapunan articulated it well. Sa tingin niya magigignrepetition lang, repetitive lang. Hindi din naman malayo na mangyari on the part of the defense na kapag tingin namin corroborrative… maaring magbawas na kami.”
Poa clarified that Lopez was never part of the defense’s planned witness list because her testimony was not deemed “integral” to their strategy.
He added that the defense is still evaluating whether to call other reserved witnesses from the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President.
”Hindi namin siya nailista. Titingnan muna natin kung kinakailangan talaga. There are reserved witnesses from Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President so we will just determine kung kinakailangan ba. There is always that possibility although ayoko pangunahan.”
The exclusion of Lopez has also left Vice President Duterte’s own attendance at the Senate up in the air. When asked if the Vice President would still show up, Poa could not give a definitive answer.
”I cannot honestly directly answer that question. I dont know if she might still attend despite the fact na hindi na witness si Atty. Leika. Ayoko magsabi na hindi tapas bigla siyang dadating dito,” he said.
Reflecting on the fifth day of the trial, which featured the rigorous questioning of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, Poa welcomed the active involvement of the senator-judges.
”All of the points raised by the sen judges are helpful. We think that the raising points to either support or question the credibility… You get insights on what really happened,” he said. “Regardless of the nature of the comments posed by the senator judges, these would also help us for the next witnesses to come.”
With Lopez and Bello officially removed from the lineup, the Senate impeachment court will pivot on July 15 to oral arguments regarding a controversial motion to unseal the Vice President’s tax and bank records.
The prosecution is scheduled to resume presenting its witnesses on July 20, with NBI Director Melvin Matibag expected to testify.