Mariing itinanggi ng prosecution team na “bluffer” ang mga ito matapos nilang iatras si dating Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV bilang isa sa kanilang witness sa alegasyong unexplained wealth laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
“It is not true. Ever since, since day one, ang palaging sinasabi natin ay we have a practice of revisiting the list of witnesses,” pahayag ni lead prosecutor at Batangas Gerville Luistro.
Ginawa ni Luistro ang pahayag dahil sa mga alegasyon na nagbluff lang umano ang mga ito dahil paulit ulit nilang sinasabi na kabilang si Trillanes sa kanilang witness sa nasabing kaso ni Duterte subalit nang dumating na ang oras na isalang na ito ay umatras ang dating senador.
“We have a practice of deciding every after one witness na cover ba o hindi. Do we proceed with this witness? It is a continuing process, and it is not simply about withdrawing,” paliwanag ni Luistro sa press conference matapos ang ika-32 araw ng paglilitis.
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na inatras ng prosecution team ang kanilang witness dahil ginawa na nila ito sa chief of staff ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) na si Atty. Zulieka Lopez sa article 4 o grave threat.
“There are considerations, of course, in the decision of the prosecution to withdraw or dispense with the presentation of some witnesses,” ani Luistro.
Ayon naman kay private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan, hindi biglaan ang pagbabawas sa mga mga witness dahil kung hindi naman aniya kailangan ang testimonya ng iba ay nagdedesisyon na huwag nang iharap ang mga ito.
Ihinalimbawa ni Kapunan ang grave threat article ay 12 ang kanilang inilistang witness subalit naging tatlo na lamang dahil lahat ng mga testinomya na magpapatunay na binantaan ni Vice President Sara Duterte ay nabuo na.
“The same with confidential funds. We were supposed to present 25 witnesses, 4,900 plus documents, we decided on 12 because after 12 witnesses we felt that it was sufficient enough,” ani Kapunan.
“Now on this issue of Senator Trillanes I think the issue again as you ask was it arbitrary, was it abrupt? As stated by our chief public prosecutor. The discussions have been ongoing. These things not even for practicing lawyers like us. These decisions are dynamic. They are very dynamic depending on the circumstances,” dagdag pa nito. (Bernard Taguinod)
