Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution holds off calling witness Madriaga in Duterte impeachment trial
The House prosecution panel indicated it may not present witness Ramil Madriaga in the near term during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings, contending that existing evidence and testimonies sufficiently address allegations of fund misappropriation.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – The prosecution team handling Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial said Monday it has no immediate plans to call witness Ramil Madriaga to testify, asserting that documentary evidence and previous testimony already cover the core allegations against the vice president.
Prosecution spokesman Ace Barbers, the former Surigao del Norte representative and chief prosecution adviser, indicated the panel believes sufficient material has been presented to establish the charges related to the alleged misuse of confidential funds without requiring Madriaga's testimony at this stage of the proceedings.
The decision to defer calling Madriaga reflects the prosecution's assessment of its case strength based on documents and witness accounts presented so far. The impeachment trial, which centers on the vice president's handling of discretionary funds during her tenure as education secretary, continues to unfold in the Senate.
Barbers did not rule out calling Madriaga at a later point should the prosecution determine additional testimony becomes necessary to support its arguments. The trial remains ongoing as senators weigh the impeachment charges filed by a group of House members.