Tulfo chides prosecution: Be strategic, field only necessary witnesses

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo has scolded the prosecution for instances where they failed to pique the curiosity of senator-judges, as they supposedly fielded witnesses that are not necessary to Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

During the start of the trial on Thursday, Tulfo asked the prosecution, particularly public prosecutor and Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores when they will present former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

When Flores said that they will announce the order after the Senate impeachment court goes on a lunch recess, Tulfo said it will be good for the prosecution to present Trillanes first before the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) rather than the other way around, as it is the AMLC which will confirm the former senator’s allegations.

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“Kasi kung kukuning witness si former senator Trillanes, much better kung mauna muna siya bago ang AMLC kasi ‘yong mga sasabihin ni Mr. Trillanes may kinalaman sa mga bank accounts na kanyang nakalap a long time ago,” Tulfo said.

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(Because if they will present former senator Trillanes as a witness, much better kung if he will go first before AMLC because the testimony of Mr. Trillanes will involve the bank accounts he discovered and gathered a long time ago.)

“So kung meron siyang mga ibubulgar na bank accounts, mga pera, pumasok lumabas sa accounts na nakuha niya sa kanyang source, then after na makausap natin si senator Trillanes, iko-confirm ‘yan ng AMLC.  So dapat mauna muna si Mr. Trillanes and then AMLC, hindi pwedeng ‘yong AMLC and then Trillanes,” he added.

(So if he will reveal bank accounts, funds that went in and out of the accounts which were from his source, then after we talk to senator Trillanes, it will be confirmed by AMLC.  So it should be Mr. Trillanes first and then AMLC, not AMLC and then Trillanes.)

When presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero said that Flores will give reply after lunch, Tulfo said that he is raising this suggestion as the prosecution seems to have stumbled several times when presenting witnesses.

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“Kasi kung minsan ‘yong prosecution, sorry ah, pumapalpak-palpak kayo, there are times na naglalagay kayo ng mga witnesses na hindi naman kailangan talaga, nagsasayang lang tayo ng oras, nakikita naman ‘yong mga senador inaantok, ‘yong iba panay ang punta sa CR kasi wala eh, parang useless eh ‘di ba?” Tulfo said.

(Because sometimes, the prosecution — I’m sorry — you fail in your presentation, there are times that you present witnesses that are not really needed, you are just wasting time, you can see senators being sleepy, some go to the CR because listening seems to be useless, right?)

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“Kukuha kayo ng witness, make sure na ‘yong talagang ‘yong witness na ‘yon ay merong masasabing bagay na makakatulong sa ginagawang imbestigasyon dito sa impeachment.  Meron pa nga kayong kinuha na pinagtatawanan tuloy, nagpapa-cute lang habang kinakausap ang witness na pulis […] So ingat kayo sa pagkukuha ng witness at ingat kayo sa pagsasalang ng mga abugado ninyo d’yan,” he added.

(If you will invite witnesses, make sure that they will be able to provide testimony that would help the investigation conducted here at the impeachment.  You even presented a witness that is poked fun at, because the prosecutor is trying to be cute while talking to the police officer […] So be careful in inviting witnesses and also in fielding your lawyers.)

Tulfo did not specify what this specific incident was, but so far, only one police officer has been presented by the prosecution — Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosive Office (PNP-FEO) official P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang, who testified regarding Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article II deals with allegations that Vice President Duterte has unexplained wealth, and that these were not declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Sangalang was quizzed by public prosecutor and San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora about the firearms owned by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, which were supposedly not stated in the vice president’s SALN for previous years.

Zamora called out these people who made the comments online, saying that they should “get a life” if they cannot handle her style.

READ: Zamora tells bashers behind sexist remarks: Get a life

The prosecution maintained on Wednesday that they still intend to present Trillanes, but the order of his presentation remains in question. 

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During Tuesday’s trial, Escudero himself gave a suggestion to the prosecution, but it was different from Tulfo — as the presiding officer proposed that Trillanes be brought after the AMLC representative. /gsg