MANILA, Philippines – Umalma ang kampo ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa tangkang pagpapalit ng testigo ng prosekusyon sa pagdinig ng impeachment trial nitong Huwebes, Oktubre 8.
Tumutol ang defense team matapos hilingin ni House prosecutor at Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon na mauna nang iharap si financial analyst Alexander Cabrera, sa halip na ang nakatakdang testigo mula sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Ayon kay Ridon, may sakit ang private prosecutor na si Atty. Erwin Matib na siyang dapat maglatag ng testimonya ni BIR Office of the Commissioner chief of staff Atty. Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez.
Pero giit ni defense lead counsel Atty. Sheila Sison, hindi patas ang biglaang pagpapalit.
“We object to this switching at the last minute. In fact, not even at the last minute, today of the witness that the prosecution intends to present today. We prepared for the BIR witness which they had disclosed,” ani Sison.
“Had they known that problem since yesterday, we expect that we would have at least been notified yesterday, Your Honor. We don’t know if this belated notice, ultra belated notice, will suffice to afford the respondent the opportunity to prepare for their supposed forensic financial analyst,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi naman ni Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero na wala pang nailalabas na subpoena ang korte para kay Cabrera, ngunit ayon kay Ridon ay nasa holding room na sa Senado ang naturang financial analyst. Ernie Reyes
