00:00In any event, in the last four trial days, we have had several hours of legal calisthenics, direct examination, cross
00:14-examination, and today we also had redirect and recross.
00:20A total of approximately eight hours a day and two witnesses.
00:30Today, we are supposed to hear a subpoenaed witness, Attorney Zulaika Lopez, and after her, another witness, subpoenaed, or called
00:45to appear here, Captain Belinda Bello.
00:51After hearing the two competent and credible witnesses, not expert witness, but through their credentials, showed that they were competent
01:03to testify on the matters that they were asked to authenticate.
01:09After evaluating through these two witnesses, 19 documentary evidence from Agent Kalilong,
01:24and 45 documentary evidence from our recent witness, Attorney Lotok.
01:35And after the very clarificatory and probing questions of our senator judges, after evaluation, and not only during this five
01:52-minute hurdle,
02:03It is the wisdom of the public prosecutors, as expressed through this representation,
02:16that we find it totally unnecessary, redundant, and a surplusage to still present Attorney Zulaika Lopez, and as well, Captain
02:34Belinda Bello.
02:36Let me just state for the record, the reasons why.
02:41Had we been able to present Attorney Zulaika Lopez, she would have proven three things, or we would want to
02:53have proven three things.
02:54First, that she was personally present inside that detention center, when the vice president uttered the video, exhibit P-4
03:11-10,
03:13when she uttered the statements that she had contracted, that she had already contracted a killer,
03:23and you have heard her, and you have heard this already before, and so on, to kill the president, the
03:31first lady, and the speaker of the house.
03:33That would have been the first offer of testimony, that she was personally present inside that detention center,
03:42when the vice president uttered those statements.
03:46Admitted already, admitted by no less than Attorney Vin Luan here, who, in his closing remarks, or opening remarks,
03:59mentioned more than 10 times that that press conference occurred,
04:07Attorney Zulueta and the vice president was there,
04:10and that in that press conference, or a live broadcast, the vice president did utter the statements we have heard
04:19time and again.
04:20Exhibit P-4-10.
04:25Although Attorney Vin Luan says yes, 10 times, I counted, just now.
04:30I counted that the admission there, as to the utterance, was made 10 times.
04:39Although Attorney Vin Luan did say that it is a matter of interpretation.
04:43He says that the vice president did not act as vice president when she made those utterances.
04:50He tried, attempted to give a humane picture to the vice president,
04:57that she had reacted as mother, sister, brother, no.
05:06And that she was not reacting in her capacity as vice president.
05:14But in that statement that Attorney Vin Luan mentioned,
05:24there was admission as to the utterances being made more than 10 times.
05:30He said, our interpretation is wrong, but again, that is left to the discretion of this court.
05:37So that was the first offer, the fact that there were utterances made in a press conference,
05:49and that Attorney Solueka was president.
05:52No need to present Attorney Lopez for this purpose.
05:56Secondly, our second purpose was that Attorney Solueka Lopez was not only present,
06:09but so were other media personnel present there who heard the utterances of the vice president.
06:17And lastly, we would have offered Attorney Solueka Lopez to confirm the authenticity and the provenance of that video.
06:35Exhibit P-4-10.
07:00So by their own admission, there is no question,
07:09about this video.
07:12And so it is our contention, and we hereby manifest,
07:19that with this admissions on file.
07:22And thank you to the senator judges for the clarificatory questions propounded.
07:30And I'd specifically like to say thank you to Senator Vicente Soto for, in his brief statement,
07:43by virtue of clarificatory, brought us back to what this trial is all about.
07:53We are not a criminal court, and much time has been spent, is there grave threats, is there inciting to
08:04sedition?
08:05All of this is relevant.
08:06But in the context of, is it by doing these grave threats, and by inciting to sedition,
08:18does it make the vice president a violator of the Constitution?
08:25Does it make her a violator of her solemn oath of office?
08:35Is this a high crime?
08:38Is this betrayal of public trust?
08:40That is what this impeachment is all about.
08:43It is not what Attorney Bin Luan says.
08:46If it is grave threats, by all means, we admit.
08:50Prison, correctional, six months to six years.
08:54And that's a fine of 2,000 pesos.
08:58If it is sedition, the same.
09:01MTC should be trying these crimes, or the RTC.
09:06But that's not what this is all about.
09:08Attorney, opponent, with your indulgence, kindly take up the matter of the presentation of witnesses.
09:14Correct.
09:14Because that is the subject that happened.
09:16So, going back to why we are making this manifestation, we have said, and I have said, on behalf of
09:28the public prosecutors, your honors,
09:30that we will no longer be presenting Attorney Sulweka and Sulweka Lopez.
09:39And, your honors, in addition, because the testimony of Captain Belinda Bellio is merely corroborative,
09:51she would have been presented only to corroborate the fact that there was a transfer order made in the detention
09:59center,
10:00and that that transfer order had been the subject of the video or press conference of November 23, 2024.
10:14And so, your honors, we are also no longer going to call as a witness Captain Belinda Bello.
10:26With that, your honor, I think the reminder of Senator Luxon that the accused, that the respondent is entitled to
10:41a speedy trial.
10:43Prosecution, the prosecutors would want this to be a reminder to all.
10:51We are doing our part.
10:52We have reduced trial dates by lessening our presentation on this article by two witnesses, your honor.
11:05And, therefore, we would also request that the same be also a reminder to the defense counsels or the counsels
11:19for the defense.
11:20Your honor, your honor, please, in my 48 years of practice as a private lawyer, and I'm grateful for this
11:29chance,
11:30I have learned two things in litigation.
11:33The first thing I have learned is, first, learn when to present and not to present a witness,
11:45and second, learn when to stop.
11:51And I think that should be our takeaway from this manifestation.
11:55We have decided, from the evidence presented, and from everything in consideration, that we will not present these two witnesses.
12:06And on that note, I will also say, we know when to stop.
12:13And this is where I stop.
Comments