Prosecutors suspect Duterte legal team withdrew BPI executive to avoid damaging testimony

MANILA — Prosecutors have suggested that the defense team's decision to pull a BPI executive from scheduled testimony reflects a cautious legal strategy aimed at limiting exposure to unfavorable evidence.

Members of the prosecution panel indicated they viewed the withdrawal as a calculated move to prevent what they characterized as opening a "Pandora's box" of damaging information. The prosecutors contend that allowing the banking official to proceed with his testimony could have led to revelations unfavorable to the vice president's position.

The development marks a significant moment in the proceedings, as the defense's tactical decision signals potential concerns about the direction witness testimony might take. Prosecutors have interpreted the move as an implicit acknowledgment that the evidence presented could undermine the defense's case.

The incident underscores the high stakes involved in the proceedings and the careful choreography both sides employ in presenting their respective arguments. The withdrawal of the BPI executive's testimony remains subject to interpretation, with prosecutors maintaining that the prosecution team would have pressed its examination had the witness proceeded.