Wala nahadlok ang House prosecution team sa posibilidad nga magtestigo si Colonel Raymund Lachica sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Suno kay House prosecution spokesperson kag private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. kag House lead prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro, handa sila nga i-cross-examine si Lachica kon ipatawag ini sang defense bilang witness.
Si Lachica amo ang anay security officer sang Office of the Vice President (OVP).Makapila ka beses nga ginlawag sang hostile witness nga si Gina Acosta ang iya pangalan nga amo ang may ihibalo sa confidential funds sang amo nga opisina.
Kahapon, nagpahayag ang Colonel nga indi niya pagbalibaran ang pagtestigo sa impeachment trial.
“I have never refused to appear or testify,” suno kay Lachica. “If lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions.”
“Ang tanong, takot ba kami na umupo sa witness stand si Lachica? Definitely not. Kung ipapatawag nila, go ahead and we’re ready to cross-examine him,” sabat naman ni Tolosa.
Dugang niya, indi kinahanglan nga i-upod si Lachica sa listahan sang mga prosecution witness bangod ang ila tuyo amo ang pagpresentar lamang sang mga testigo nga importante sa pagpamatuod sang impeachment case.
“Will having Lachica as a hostile witness be strategic for us? Do we need him as hostile witnesses when we already presented witnesses such as Ms. [Gina] Acosta, who said she withdrew the confidential fund in cash and gave it to Lachica upon the directions of the Vice President, and COA [Commission on Audit] auditors saying that such action is prohibited?” suno sa abogado.
“If they [defense team] see the need to call him to explain this matters on confidential fund spending, then they can do it [call Lachica as witness] and we will be prepared to cross examine him. Because at the end of the day, is it absolutely necessary for us to call him as our witness to meet our essential evidentiary targets?” pahayag pa sini.
Suno naman kay Luistro, dapat nakasentro ang mga testigo sa mga alegasyon nga yara sa Articles of Impeachment, lakip ang ginapahayag nga misuse, misappropriation kag irregular liquidation sang confidential funds.
“I am always guided by the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment because these are what we need to prove. Article 1 alleges misuse, misappropriation, irregular liquidation of confidential fund. I don’t think there is a need to present Colonel Lachica,” pahayag sang kongresista.
“But again, that is personal. We will have to wait for the official position of the entire prosecution team,” dugang sini.#
