By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – The Senate impeachment court on Monday ordered the issuance of subpoenas for three witnesses in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and approved the postponement of another witness’s appearance to Nov. 10, as proceedings resumed after nearly a month of recess.
In his opening remarks, Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the court acted on several manifestations filed during the recess, including requests for witness subpoenas and adjustments to the presentation schedule.
“Subpoenas will accordingly be issued by the court today,” Escudero said.
The court directed the issuance of subpoenas to lawyer Anel Martin S. Antero, Chadrin S. Parian, and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar M. Barcellano, who were identified in a Nov. 7 manifestation as prospective witnesses for the Nov. 9 to 13 hearings.
The three are expected to testify on matters relevant to Article II, the remaining impeachment charge involving allegations of unexplained wealth.
Escudero also granted the request to move the appearance of lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp., from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10.
The request was contained in a Nov. 6 manifestation informing the court that Balucanag-Punay was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination on Monday.
The court allowed her testimony to be rescheduled while permitting the presentation of succeeding witnesses to proceed.
No subpoena for Sarmiento
Meanwhile, Escudero clarified that the court had not issued a subpoena to constitutional law professor Ralph Sarmiento, who earlier declined to participate in the impeachment proceedings.
Sarmiento, initially listed as the first prospective witness, withdrew his participation to preserve his independence as a legal scholar.
The court received a Nov. 5 manifestation withdrawing Sarmiento as a witness and requesting the recall of his subpoena.
“The court clarified that no subpoena has yet been issued to Dean Sarmiento, and thus no withdrawal is necessary,” Escudero said.
The clarification settled questions surrounding the professor’s intended appearance, as no subpoena had been issued for the court to recall.
The presiding officer also placed on record the defense’s Nov. 4 manifestation listing 24 witnesses for the first week of proceedings, along with subsequent filings concerning their scheduled appearances.
Access to evidence
In another development, Escudero disclosed that he issued an order on Nov. 6 governing the classification of exhibits attached to the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence and the manner and extent of access to these documents.
He said copies of the order were furnished to the parties and senator-judges.
The directive follows the court’s Nov. 5 ruling admitting bank, tax, corporate and property records relevant to Article II while excluding evidence related to withdrawn impeachment charges.
The court earlier imposed safeguards against the unauthorized disclosure of protected financial and personal information contained in the exhibits.
Escudero also reiterated the court’s decision to enforce the Rule XVIII sub judice restriction across all impeachment articles, including those previously withdrawn by the prosecution.
The order prohibits covered individuals from publicly discussing the merits of the impeachment case while proceedings continue.
With the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence resolved and its case officially rested, the impeachment court proceeded with the defense’s presentation on Article II, the sole remaining charge against Duterte. (PNA)
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL RESUMES. Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero announces the issuance of subpoenas for three prospective witnesses as the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes Monday (Nov. 9, 2026). Escudero also approved the rescheduling of another witness’s appearance to Nov. 10 and clarified that no subpoena was issued to constitutional law professor Ralph Sarmiento, who earlier declined to testify.
