Enrile admits ‘helping’ prosecution question witness

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile admitted on Tuesday to helping the prosecution during the impeachment trial because he saw them having difficulties in the direct examination of their witness.

ENRILE: Soon to be 88, oozing with diligence and stamina

“Nakita ko nga na nahihirapan [ang prosecution sa direct examination] kaya pinakiusapan ko na yung depensa na pabayaan mo na lang na sagutin [ng witness ang mga tanong], tsaka mo na lang tanungin sa cross examination,” Enrile said in an ambush interview after the proceedings.

Enrile admitted that he had to ask a few questions to the witness to help the prosecution lay the basis for their questions after numerous objections by the defense panel.

“Minsan nahahalata namin hindi nagkakaintindihan yung abogado ng prosecution tsaka yung kanillang testigo,” Enrile said.

Enrile said that on his personal experience, he would not call a witness to testify if he did not know what the witness would say.

The prosecution should have talked to the witness first to know what the witness would say as well as to inform the witness what the questions would be, Enrile said.

But the witness should not be taught what to say because the defense could find out if the witness was directed to say certain things instead of freely testifying, Enrile said.

“Nalalagay sa alanganin yun mga abogado [ng prosecution] sa kanilang mga testigo dahil hindi sila nag-uusap bago pumasok sa impeachment court,” Enrile said.

He described the testimony of the witness as “like quicksand,” but refused to say who.