The legal team representing Vice President Sara Duterte has brushed aside issues regarding the apparent duplication of witnesses in her ongoing impeachment trial, asserting that both the prosecution and defense retain full authority over their respective evidence and lineups.
Addressing reporters on the third day of the pretrial conference, defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa clarified that it is inaccurate to describe the situation as “mirroring” or “adopting” the opposition’s witnesses, noting that both parties filed their respective pretrial documents almost simultaneously.
“Unang-una sa lahat, wala po sa tingin ko po sa aming pananaw, hindi naman po tama yung terminology na mirroring or adopting because as you know, when you were here that day, halos sabay po kami nagsubmit ng pre-trial brief,” Poa said.
Poa maintained that choosing which testimonies and documents to present is entirely up to each side.
He also noted that the defense is fully prepared to counter any formal objections or motions the prosecution might lodge before the impeachment tribunal.
“Nasa bawat panig naman po yun kung sinong witnesses at anong mga dokumento ang iprepresenta. Ngayon pagdating doon, if they file such a request, motion, manifestation, the defense is ready to respond accordingly,” he added.
The defense spokesperson reiterated that the Duterte camp firmly supports full transparency regarding the trial’s lineup to ensure both sides have ample time to gear up for the hearings.
“It is the prerogative of either the defense or the prosecution to choose the witnesses, documents, and other pieces of evidence that they will present,” Poa said.
“Sabay naman pong nagbigay ng pre-trial brief, and it is well within the prerogative of each party to identify and present the witnesses that they would like to present. I think that’s very clear,” he added.
Poa further disclosed that both teams have listed back-up witnesses whose identities remain confidential for security reasons.
“If there is a rule that requires us to disclose within three days, wala naman po kami nagiging problema doon. In fact, kami pa nga po yung humingi ng disclosure,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, the defense was actually the party that sought a clear schedule regarding the order of the trial and the witness sequence to help everyone—including the senator-judges—prepare efficiently.
“Humingi rin kami ng disclosure kung sinong mauuna, sinong sunod. Bakit po? Kasi po para po makapaghanda ang bawat panig, ang prosecution at defense, at pati na rin po ang impeachment court, ang ating senator-judges,” Poa said.
“At kami din naman po sa defense, kung hiningi namin yun sa prosecution, willing din naman po kami na kami rin ay sumailalim sa ganong disclosure,” he added.