Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution drops two AFP witnesses in Duterte impeachment trial
The prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case has withdrawn two of its four Armed Forces of the Philippines witnesses from the proceedings. The move came after a second AFP officer completed his testimony on Tuesday.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial dispensed with two of its four Armed Forces of the Philippines witnesses on Tuesday, streamlining its case as the proceedings advanced.
AFP officers Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao and Lt. Col. Carlos Sangdaan Jr. were withdrawn from the witness list following testimony from a second military officer the same day. The prosecution's decision to drop the two witnesses marks a shift in strategy as the trial progresses through its evidentiary phase.
The impeachment case against Vice President Duterte centers on allegations related to the Department of Education's Confidential and Intelligence Funds. The AFP's involvement in the case stems from investigations into the handling of these government resources.
The trial continues as the prosecution presents its case before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. The withdrawal of the two witnesses suggests the prosecution may have secured sufficient testimony from remaining military witnesses to support its allegations.