Lawmakers suggest Duterte testify if defense seeks financial details

MANILA — Two ranking House of Representatives lawmakers on Tuesday challenged the defense counsel's strategy of calling witnesses to testify about Vice President Sara Duterte's financial transactions, saying the most direct solution would be for the Vice President herself to take the stand.

The remarks came during a break in the impeachment proceedings, with the lawmakers noting that calling multiple witnesses to speak about matters within the Vice President's personal knowledge would be an inefficient approach to the trial.

The defense team has indicated it may call witnesses to address questions about financial dealings that have become central to the impeachment case against Duterte. However, the lawmakers suggested this approach could be circumvented by having the Vice President provide firsthand testimony before the court.

The debate over witness testimony reflects broader procedural questions in the high-profile impeachment trial, which has drawn significant public attention and scrutiny of the Vice President's conduct and financial disclosures. The trial continues to work through competing arguments about the appropriate scope and methods of presenting evidence.

The comments underscore tensions between the defense and prosecutors over how best to present the case, with fundamental disagreements emerging over whether hearsay testimony or direct testimony would be more appropriate for resolving disputed facts in the proceedings.