Who are Sara Duterte’s initial witnesses in impeachment trial? - Rappler

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VEEP. This file photo shows Vice President Sara Duterte.

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MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena corporate, local government, and banking officials to testify in her impeachment trial, including a representative of the companies allegedly linked to her. 

In a manifestation filed on Wednesday, November 4, the defense requested the issuance of subpoenas duces tecum and ad testificandum to Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of Gencorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods.

The subpoena would direct Balucanag-Punay to appear before the impeachment court and bring certified true copies and original copies of the companies’ general information sheets and audited financial statements from 2022 to 2025, as well as other related corporate records covering the same period.

Balucanag-Punay is expected to testify on relevant corporate and business matters, including Duterte’s alleged business interests in Gencorp and Metro City Chow Foods.

The defense also asked the impeachment court to subpoena several local government employees, including Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin and Island Garden City of Samal Assessor John Kenneth Enumerables. They are expected to testify on matters concerning Duterte’s tax declarations and tax maps covering properties within their respective jurisdictions.

Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan and Barangay Matina Crossing Chairperson Cindy Colina were also included in the defense’s list of proposed witnesses.

The defense further requested the issuance of subpoenas to at least 16 bank employees to testify in the impeachment trial. They are as follows:

The impeachment trial was put on hold to give way to Senate committee hearings on the proposed 2027 national budget. The proceedings will resume on Monday, November 9, with Duterte’s defense team beginning its presentation of evidence.

The defense earlier asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena former law school dean Ralph Sarmiento as its first witness, but the constitutional law expert declined the request. – Rappler.com