MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte, during the trial’s 10th day on Wednesday, July 29, almost totally avoided a cross-examination of the witnesses from Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank).
Defense spokesperson and counsel Michael Poa said he did not cross-examine first witness Violeta Constantino, former Landbank Shaw Boulevard branch manager, because he did not find any concerns about her testimony on the withdrawal of Office of the Vice President (OVP) cheques worth P500 million.
It’s not even part of their legal strategy, according to Poa.
“Wala namang questionable, wala namang damaging na nailabas ang ating witness. At regular lang naman na ‘yong witness ay nag-identify ng mga cheque at hindi naman natin kinu-question ‘yon. So, I didn’t want to prolong the proceedings and, you know, be petty by asking questions pa kung hindi naman kinakailangan,” the spokesperson told reporters during a press conference.
(There’s no questionable or damaging detail that the witness testified to. And it’s regular for the witness to identify the cheque, and we’re not questioning that. So I didn’t want to prolong the proceedings and, you know, be petty by asking unnecessary questions.)
