Sara Duterte trial: Why did prosecution defer presentation of second witness to July 13?

MANILA, Philippines – Instead of presenting National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, July 8, the prosecution team decided to reschedule him for next week, July 13.

Public prosecutor Bel Zamora said it is a matter of “strategy.”

“It’s evening and we don’t want to waste everyone’s time up to tonight. Of course, once it starts, it will go on and on, and we don’t want that. I’m sure Attorney Lotoc will be there on Monday and he will be able to answer all of the questions that will be propounded by both parties and the senator-judges,” Zamora said.

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Lotoc was already subpoenaed by the court on opening day on Monday, July 6, alongside NBI special agent John Mark Calilung, the first prosecution witness who testified that he had authenticated Duterte’s kill threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The prosecution also chose to forgo conducting redirect examination of Calilung.

“We heard the questions propounded by the defense to John Mark Calilung, which we believe were sufficiently answered by (him), that’s why we decided not to conduct redirect examination anymore,” Zamora said.

For next week, the prosecution’s witness lineup includes Lotoc, Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, and NBI chief Melvin Matibag.

Lopez and Matibag have been subpoenaed by the impeachment court. – Rappler.com