By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The House prosecution panel has dropped former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV from its witness lineup in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, abandoning its earlier plan to have him testify on allegations involving her wealth and financial transactions.
Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro formally informed the Senate sitting as an impeachment court Thursday that the prosecution had made a final decision not to present Trillanes.
“The prosecution has finally decided not to present former Senator Sonny Trillanes,” Luistro told the court.
The prosecution did not give a detailed explanation for the reversal, with Luistro describing the decision as the panel’s prerogative.
Trillanes had previously been identified as a potential witness for Article II, which deals with allegations concerning Duterte’s wealth, financial transactions and declarations of assets, liabilities and net worth.
His expected testimony was linked to financial documents and allegations he had earlier raised concerning transactions involving Duterte and members of her family.
The former senator had also been prepared to appear before the impeachment court after being included in the prosecution’s earlier witness plans.
His removal from the lineup came as the prosecution shifted its presentation toward documentary evidence and testimony from government agencies and financial institutions that could directly address the records at issue.
Officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council and other agencies are expected to play a central role in establishing the financial trail being presented under Article II.
The prosecution has yet to say whether documents previously associated with Trillanes will still be presented independently of his testimony.
With the former senator now out of the witness lineup, the impeachment court will have to consider the prosecution’s financial allegations through the records and testimony of the government and financial officials it chooses to present.
For Trillanes, the witness stand that once appeared to be part of the prosecution’s case will remain empty as the impeachment proceedings move forward.
ia/xf
