MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said Saturday that the prosecution’s next witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will strengthen the evidence and testimony related to the alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
De Lima made the statement during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City as the Senate impeachment court concluded the first week of trial proceedings.
The prosecution is set to present National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc after NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.
De Lima said Lotoc will explain how investigators assessed the evidence, including the videos that Calilung authenticated during his testimony.
“He will both corroborate and add details to the testimony of Agent Calilung, particularly on the investigation, its findings and the basis for referring the case to the Department of Justice,” De Lima said in Filipino.
She said Calilung played an important role in authenticating video recordings of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024, press briefing that contained the alleged threats.
De Lima also said the first week of the trial focused on presenting evidence that underwent cross-examination. She said the succeeding hearings would present additional evidence through more witnesses.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno compared the presentation of evidence to building the foundation of a house.
“The introduction is where the foundation needs to be established. Now we will see other features of the house. I think the public’s interest will intensify next week and in the next few weeks,” Diokno said in Filipino.
The prosecution also plans to present House of Representatives Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms Executive Director Capt. Belinda Bello and Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez during the second week of the trial.
De Lima said Calilung’s testimony remained intact during cross-examination and became stronger after questioning by the defense.
She also said the defense’s presentation of portions of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024, press briefing indicated that it did not dispute the authenticity of the video.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa played portions of the Nov. 23, 2024, press briefing in which Lopez discussed her detention after being cited for contempt by the House of Representatives. Duterte also made the statements that prosecutors cited as alleged threats against Marcos, the First Lady and Romualdez during the same briefing.
The defense has argued that the alleged threats do not constitute “other high crimes” under the Constitution as grounds for impeachment.
Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan said Duterte made the remarks as a wife, mother, daughter and sister seeking to protect her family. He also claimed that “Operation Romanov” posed a real threat to Duterte and her family.
