The corporate counsel of Gencorp Industries Inc. will be absent when Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial resumes on Monday, November 9, due to a scheduled medical examination.
House prosecution panel lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro confirmed on Sunday, November 8, that the team received a notice stating Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay cannot attend because of a scheduled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
”That is correct, and the anticipated date for her presentation will be on Wednesday kasi ‘yung subpoena na na-issue sa kanya (Balucanag-Punay) I believe is from Monday to Wednesday. But with the excuse of having this scheduled MRI, definitely, wala siya bukas,” Luistro said.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. on Monday, followed by an afternoon Senate session and the resumption of the trial.
According to Luistro, Monday’s expected witnesses include Davao City Assessor Engineer Jaime Adalin, Island Garden City of Samal Assessor Engineer John Kenneth Enumerables, and Matina Crossing Barangay Captain Cindy Colina.
“So, our anticipation for the first witnesses on Monday… will dwell on the testimony of the Land Registration Authority,” Luistro noted.
In a separate development, law professor Dean Ralph Sarmiento, who was originally lined up as a defense witness, withdrew from the proceedings to maintain his professional independence.
”I have decided to decline participation as a witness in the proceedings. This is a personal decision to preserve the independence of my constitutional law scholarship and the impartiality of my legal views and opinions,” Sarmiento stated.
Luistro expressed confidence in the prosecution’s case, stating that their witnesses’ testimonies are evidence-based and difficult for the defense to challenge.
The prosecution has previously dropped three Articles of Impeachment, presenting evidence on Articles I and IV. Article I addresses alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article III covers alleged bribery of Department of Education officials, and Article IV involves alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez.
Presiding Officer and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero cautioned that while the allegations in withdrawn articles can be discussed, it does not permit the unrestricted disclosure of related evidence.