MANILA, Philippines — Former University of St. La Salle College of Law Dean Ralph Sarmiento has declined an invitation from Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team to testify as their first witness in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 5, Sarmiento explained that his decision was made to “preserve the independence” of his “constitutional law scholarship” and to maintain the impartiality of his legal views.
“I had not anticipated that these views might potentially become part of the impeachment proceedings,” Sarmiento said, adding, “After careful consideration, I have decided to decline participation as a witness in the proceedings.”
Sarmiento confirmed that he has already contacted the defense panel to request the withdrawal of any subpoena or appearance requests tied to his name.
Meanwhile, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution panel, supported Sarmiento’s decision, stating that the defense’s strategy to present legal and constitutional principles was irrelevant to the trial’s core focus.
“Tama lang na umatras si Dean Ralph Sarmiento na magpakita sa paglilitis,” Ridon said. “Ang paglalatag ng ebidensiya ng depensa tungkol sa sinasabi nilang legal at constitutional principles ay wala sa lugar at walang batayan.”
Ridon asserted that the defense team should instead direct its efforts toward addressing substantive allegations, including questions surrounding unexplained wealth ranging from ₱800 million to ₱1.5 billion, over ₱100 million in financial accounts allegedly omitted from Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), and substantial credit card transactions.