Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Prosecution drops witnesses, may call VP herself

MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has entered a new phase following a significant shift by the House prosecution team on Day 23 of the proceedings. The prosecution announced it would drop 15 witnesses from its original list, signaling a strategic change in its approach. More notably, they indicated the possibility of calling Vice President Duterte herself to testify. This development could substantially alter the trajectory of the trial. The prosecution's decision to revise its witness list is seen as an attempt to streamline the proceedings and potentially secure more direct evidence by having the Vice President take the stand. If Duterte testifies, the trial is expected to draw even greater public and media attention. Concurrently, the Senate impeachment court is actively deliberating on a critical question: the number of votes required to convict the Vice President. This decision on the threshold for conviction is crucial and will directly impact the final outcome of the impeachment proceedings. Various stakeholders are closely monitoring these deliberations. The combination of witness changes, the potential for the Vice President's testimony, and the ongoing debate over the required conviction votes represent pivotal moments in Duterte's impeachment trial. These developments are anticipated to have significant implications for the domestic political landscape of the Philippines. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo