Sara Duterte impeachment trial Day 43: What to expect

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The Defense team will be presenting on Thursday only one of the 16 bank officials it initially sought to testify as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

This, as defense counsel Michael Poa announced that Duterte’s camp would forego the testimonies of all the bank representatives it listed as intended witnesses, except for Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael, senior vice president of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

“In the interest of time and as we don’t want to waste the time of the court, and to abbreviate the proceedings, we would be dispensing with the testimonies [of] the bank representatives, except for the BPI bank representative,” Poa said during Wednesday’s trial.

Based on a briefer of the impeachment court, Ysmael is expected to testify on, bring, and identify certified true copies of the letter-requests of the Vice President and/or her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, through counsel Poa, Himala and Virtucio Law, in 2026.

He is also expected to shed light on the BPI’s respective responses to the letter-requests, as well as to other relevant documents.

After Ysmael, Poa said the defense would be presenting three more individuals, namely: Atty. Anel Martin Antero from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Chadrin Parian from Las Piñas City; and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar Barcellano.

The defense is currently presenting evidence and witnesses for Article II of the impeachment case against Duterte alleging her unexplained wealth due to supposed failure to truthfully disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and failure to divest in businesses as required for the President and Vice President under a Constitutional provision. — BAP, GMA News