Prosecution sees no need to present rebuttal witnesses

Prosecution spokesperson Rep. Sonny Angara. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—A spokesman of the prosecution team on Wednesday said that for now they still saw no need to present rebuttal witnesses in the impeachment proceedings.

Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said that their earlier statements on considering presenting rebuttal witnesses were made with the premise that “the defense would be presenting witnesses who would damage or weaken our case.”

Angara said the prosecution was considering rebuttal evidence until Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales claimed that the chief magistrate owned $10 million in bank deposits.

For now, he said that preparing to disprove the defense panel’s case was not their priority although House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. maintained that they would “definitely prepare a rigorous examination of [Corona] but whether there is a need for rebuttal it’s another thing. Because what is there to rebut?”

It is the defense panel who should rebut the Ombudsman’s revelations, said House majority leader Neptali Gonzales Jr., explaining that her testimony “is damaging to the defense.”

“Hindi naman damaging sa prosecution. Kaya ang meron talagang dapat mag-rebut nito and to disprove their claim will be the defense–to disprove and to rebut their own witness,” he said. “You only try to rebut something when it is damaging to your cause.”