The House prosecution panel made a bold strategic pivot on Tuesday during the 23rd day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, announcing plans to call the Vice President herself to the witness stand.
Addressing the Senate impeachment court presided over by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan revealed that the team is dropping its remaining 15 scheduled witnesses for Article I.
This initial charge centers on the alleged misuse and misappropriation of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
Kapunan explained that the decision followed extensive strategy sessions among public and private prosecutors that began Monday evening and wrapped up just before the hearing.
According to the veteran litigator, the testimony already delivered by prior witnesses sufficiently solidified the case, leaving all key evidence pointing directly to the Vice President.
”All of these actors on that chessboard point to only one person–the queen. And it is the queen here, the Vice President.”
Drawing on her nearly five decades of legal experience, Kapunan used a chess metaphor to illustrate how the testimony and evidence gathered so far connect back to the official ultimately held responsible.
”And this is why all of these pawns and castles and horses and bishops point to only one person and that accountable person is the Vice President,” Kapunan said.
Closing her statement, the prosecutor formally notified the court of their decision to replace the remaining witness slate with the Vice President’s own testimony.
”In lieu of presenting 15 other witnesses, we will be presenting the Vice President herself, as regards use, misuse, misappropriation, of confidential funds, which is article I of the articles of impeachment,” Kapunan said.
The move marks a dramatic turn in the proceedings, setting up a high-stakes scenario where Duterte may be forced to directly address the controversial confidential fund allocations before the Senate.