Senator-judge Panfilo "Ping" Lacson asked both the prosecution and defense to present a competent witness regarding the handling of intelligence funds this Wednesday.
The demand comes as the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte seeks to determine the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds. Lacson's push for qualified testimony is intended to ensure the proceedings are based on expert knowledge and to accelerate the overall trial process.
"We need a competent witness to discuss the intelligence funds," Lacson said. This request highlighted a perceived gap in the technical expertise provided by previous witnesses to explain the complexities of government fund management.
Senate presiding officer Chiz Escudero responded to the request with a lighthearted remark, suggesting "a confidential witness for confidential funds."
In response to the call for more specialized testimony, the prosecution panel announced its intention to bring in additional expertise. On Monday, July 12, the prosecution said it will call another official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to testify [1]. This NBI official will serve as the second witness presented by the prosecution panel [2].
Lacson has previously expressed the need for a faster impeachment trial to resolve the legal challenges facing the vice president. The focus remains on whether the funds were utilized according to law or diverted for unauthorized purposes.
“"We need a competent witness to discuss the intelligence funds."”
The insistence on 'competent' witnesses suggests that the Senate is struggling to find testimony that can definitively prove or disprove the misuse of funds due to the secretive nature of intelligence spending. By calling NBI officials, the prosecution is attempting to move from circumstantial evidence to forensic or investigative findings, which could determine the speed and outcome of the impeachment trial.
