The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte reaches a critical juncture as it enters Day 43 on Thursday. The defense team will present only one of the originally planned 16 bank officials.
Defense counsel Michael Poa announced that the team will forgo testimonies from other bank representatives, opting instead to focus on Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael, a senior vice president at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).
In the interest of time and as we don’t want to waste the time of the court, we would be dispensing with the testimonies of the bank representatives, except for the BPI bank representative.
Michael Poa, Defense Counsel
Ysmael is expected to provide insights into the Vice President's financial dealings, specifically regarding certified true copies of letter-requests from Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio.
Following Ysmael's testimony, the defense plans to introduce three additional witnesses: Atty. Anel Martin Antero from Bulacan, Chadrin Parian from Las Piñas City, and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar Barcellano.
The trial is centered on allegations against Duterte concerning her failure to disclose assets truthfully in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and her alleged non-compliance with divestment requirements for high-ranking officials.