MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo reprimanded the prosecution panel on Thursday, October 1, pointing out procedural blunders and inefficient witness presentation during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Tulfo raised concerns after the prosecution shared plans to present the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Thursday afternoon, while delaying the scheduling of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s testimony.
Objecting to the proposed order, Tulfo recommended calling Trillanes before the AMLC official to ensure the prosecution can verify the details provided by the former lawmaker prior to questioning the agency.
“Kung minsan yung prosecution pumapalpak-palpak kayo. There are times na naglalagay kayo ng mga witnesses dito na hindi naman kailangan talaga. Nagsasayang lang tayo ng oras,” Tulfo said.
He further criticized the panel for calling witnesses whose contributions offered little value to the overall proceedings.
“Nakikita naman yung mga senador inaantok. Yung iba panay ang punta ng CR kasi wala eh, parang useless eh,” he added.
Tulfo urged the prosecution to thoroughly evaluate every witness before placing them on the stand in the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
“So, kukuha kayo ng witness, make sure na yung witness na yun ay mayroong masasabing bagay na makatutulong sa ginagawang imbestigasyon dito sa impeachment,” he stressed.
The senator also called attention to a prior witness examination that he said became a target of public ridicule, referring to the September 28 direct examination of police officer PMaj. Jerickson Sangalang.
“Meron pa nga kayong ginawa na pinagtatawanan tuloy nagpapa-cute lang habang may kinakausap na witness na police,” Tulfo remarked.
His comments appeared to target San Juan City Lone District Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora, who led the examination of Sangalang regarding firearms registered under Vice President Duterte and her spouse, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio.
Following that session, Zamora was subjected to misogynistic insults online regarding her style of questioning.
Concluding his remarks, Tulfo cautioned the prosecution to exercise greater prudence in choosing both their witnesses and their trial lawyers.
“So, ingat kayo sa pagkukuha ng mga witness at ingat kayo sa pagsasalang ng mga abogado,” he advised.