VP Sara Duterte lists Trillanes, Madriaga as impeachment witnesses

Vice President Sara Duterte has listed her accusers, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Ramil Madriaga, as witnesses for her upcoming impeachment trial.

Trillanes and Madriaga were listed as witnesses for the Vice President as contained in the defense panel’s pre-trial brief submitted to the Senate impeachment court on June 15.

The Vice President’s pre-trial brief stated that the purpose of fielding the witnesses, including Trillanes and Madriaga, is “to disprove the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment, establish that the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment are mere conclusions of law and fact” as well as to identify documents and prove other related matters.

“Since the burden of proof never shifts, it is incumbent upon the Prosecution to prove their allegations in the Articles of Impeachment,” the defense panel’s pre-trial brief read.

Aside from Trillanes and Madriaga, other witnesses that the Vice President listed are:

“Until the prosecution is able to present any such credible, competent, and admissible evidence, the respondent reserves the right to present additional controverting evidence,” the pre-trial brief added.

The Articles of Impeachment approved by the House for Senate action accuse the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery and other high crimes, based on the following acts:

a) systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of confidential funds amounting to P500 million released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P112.5 million released to the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as Education chief

b) amassing unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official

c) failure to fully and truthfully disclose all her and her spouse's assets, liabilities, and net worth in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), including in her SALN for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024;

d) failure to divest, and instead, willfully continued, all her business interests during her tenure as vice president for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025

e) giving monetary gifts or payments to DepEd officials to induce the violation and circumvention of procurement and other related laws.

f) contracting for the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker of the House and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, by making grave threats, and by actively inciting sedition against the Republic.

Items a, e an