Senate impeachment court: No subpoena yet for Trillanes

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The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday did not issue a subpoena to former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV after the prosecution requested to present him as witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"The court shall not at this time issue the subpoena to former Senator Trillanes. However, the court cannot prevent the prosecution from calling him as a witness voluntarily," said Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero said during Day 31 of the impeachment trial.

House prosecutor Terry Ridon initially sought to present Trillanes as their next witness, in addition to Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) executive director Ronel Buenaventura and two other provincial government officers.

"We are proposing that he will be subjected to examination first, before the LRA witnesses. He will be presented tomorrow as the first witness," Ridon said.

Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison, however, questioned the proposed sudden change in the presentation of witnesses.

"This means now that this would be the second time that the prosecution is changing the order of its presentation of the witnesses, just for this week," she said.

"In fact, in the list of three witnesses disclosed yesterday, it does not include the name of the former senator Trillanes," she added.

Meanwhile, Escudero also questioned the prosecution's plea to present Trillanes on Wednesday in relation to funds and bank accounts as the impeachment court tackles Duterte's alleged unexplained wealth.

"No such bank accounts as of yet have been presented by the prosecution. My understanding is, if at all, he will be presented or should be presented after AMLC at the very least. Or after the banks have been presented," the presiding officer said.

In response, Ridon said: "But I don't he will speak only about the bank accounts. He will speak about other matters relating to it."

Later, the defense withdrew its objection to Trillanes' possible appearance on Wednesday.

"Your honor, we'll withdraw the objection to the presentation tomorrow of the former senator Trillanes. We will examine him should the prosecutor decide to present him tomorrow," said Sison.

After a short break, Escudero rejected the issuance of a subpoena to Trillanes to appear tomorrow.

"The cart cannot be put ahead of the horse. It would be best, as originally planned by the prosecutors in their motion itself to present, at the very least, the AMLC officer and/or the bank officials or bank records, given that the testimony of Antonio Trillanes IV will pertain to that," said Escudero.

Meanwhile, the prosecution took the presiding officer's advice.

Expected to appear tomorrow are two provincial officials to testify on the properties of Duterte's husband Manases Carpio.

Davao City Register of Deeds IV Kathy Florence Baldonado is expected to comment about Carpio's alleged property in Matina.

Likewise, City of Samal Deputy Register of Deeds III Marco Pineda is called to appear about a property in Island Garden City registered in the name of Carpio. — RSJ, GMA News

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