Impeachment court can summon witnesses – Escudero
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment court may ask witnesses to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial should it see the need to, presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero said on Monday.
Escudero made the announcement after Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo hoped that the House prosecution would present as witnesses Duterte’s former security personnel – Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Lachica – but the prosecution said they no longer need to do so.
Nolasco and Lachica, former deputy chief and former chief of Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), supposedly received the confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Duterte’s leadership.
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“We do not know yet if the defense will call Lachica and Nolasco because I believe they are listed too as a common witness supposedly by both parties in the pre-trial order. So there may still be a chance. But should that not happen, Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo, nothing prevents the court from calling a witness,” Escudero said.
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READ: Impeachment prosecutors: No need to call Lachica, others
He added that the court may still recall witnesses if need be, but only after the defense and the prosecution panels have presented their respective evidence.
“That would come after, if at all, the presentation of the evidence in chief of both parties. We allow them as much as possible to do it first. And when we feel that there is a need, then we can discuss it and put it to a vote if necessary,” Escudero explained.
Further, should any witnesses be called by the impeachment court after both parties have presented their evidence, the witness will no longer be subjected to the examination of the defense and the prosecution.
“He will only answer to the queries of senator-judges because he’s a witness called by the court and not by the parties,” said Escudero. /gsg
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