Tupas, Quimbo among defense’s witnesses in impeachment trial—source

MANILA, Philippines—The head of the House prosecution team and their spokesperson would be among the witnesses that the defense panel may present in the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo were included in the lineup as “hostile witnesses” that the defense would submit to the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday, according to an INQUIRER source.

The source, who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak with the media, said the defense would also summon the head of the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s secretariat and representatives of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

“The defense lawyers are carefully studying who should be included on the list of witnesses so as not be accused of delaying the proceedings,” the source said.

Sought for comment, defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador III declined to confirm whether Tupas and Quimbo would be asked to appear on the witness stand in their bid to prove Corona’s claim of innocence.

“We are still cleaning up the final form. We should just wait for its formal submission,” Salvador told reporters before the resumption of the trial on Tuesday.

Asked if Tupas and Quimbo would be called to testify for the defense, he said: “If you remember, Tupas was included in our original request for subpoena.”

When asked about the importance of Tupas’ testimony: “We will just go back to the issue of verification of the articles of impeachment (and) if its submission was according to the Constitution.”