Duterte's defense witness unable to recall document signing details

MANILA — The defense mounted during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings encountered difficulty on Tuesday when a Davao-based accountant called as a witness demonstrated limited recollection of critical details regarding his role and responsibilities.

The witness, presented by Duterte's legal team, could not remember signing various documents or provide specifics about his involvement with an accounting firm that simultaneously handled auditing work for entities connected to the Vice President, according to proceedings before the Senate Impeachment Court.

Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero and other senator-judges pressed the witness on the apparent gaps in his memory during questioning, as the testimony unfolded during the high-profile constitutional proceedings against the Vice President.

The inability to provide clear recollection of documentary evidence and professional responsibilities raises questions about the reliability of the witness testimony, which forms part of Duterte's defense strategy in the ongoing impeachment trial.