Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon challenged the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, September 14, over its claims of being ambushed by the prosecution’s witness presentation at the Senate impeachment trial.
Ridon, who serves on the House prosecution panel, highlighted the contradiction after defense attorneys presented prepared visual slides while questioning retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang—despite previously labeling her a “surprise witness.”
“Ang tanong ko lang po sa kanila ngayong araw na ito, kung hindi sila handa, ba’t meron silang slides?” Ridon stated during a media interview on the sidelines of the trial.
The prosecution called Cabotaje-Tang to open its case for Article II, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth involving the Vice President.
Prior to her testimony, Duterte’s legal team filed an objection to block the retired magistrate, arguing her name had been omitted from the pretrial order. The defense further argued that calling an expert witness to testify on established legal principles was unnecessary for the senator-judges.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero overruled the defense’s objections, allowing Cabotaje-Tang to testify under standard rules governing witness qualifications and cross-examination.
Ridon noted that the defense’s dynamic use of cropped presentation slides during cross-examination undercut their assertion of being caught unprepared.
“Parang ilang slides ’yun, naka-crop pa at prinisinta po sa Senate Impeachment Court. So, ipaliwanag lang nila. Sabi nila hindi sila handa, bakit may slides?” he added.