Who are Sara Duterte’s initial witnesses in impeachment trial?

MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena corporate, local government, and banking officials to testify in her impeachment trial, including a representative of the companies allegedly linked to her. 

In a manifestation filed on Wednesday, November 4, the defense requested the issuance of subpoenas duces tecum and ad testificandum to Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of Gencorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods.

The subpoena would direct Balucanag-Punay to appear before the impeachment court and bring certified true copies and original copies of the companies’ general information sheets and audited financial statements from 2022 to 2025, as well as other related corporate records covering the same period.

Balucanag-Punay is expected to testify on relevant corporate and business matters, including Duterte’s alleged business interests in Gencorp and Metro City Chow Foods.

The defense also asked the impeachment court to subpoena several local government employees, including Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin and Island Garden City of Samal Assessor John Kenneth Enumerables. They are expected to testify on matters concerning Duterte’s tax declarations and tax maps covering properties within their respective jurisdictions.

Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan and Barangay Matina Crossing Chairperson Cindy Colina were also included in the defense’s list of proposed witnesses.

The defense further requested the issuance of subpoenas to at least 16 bank employees to testify in the impeachment trial. They are as follows:

• Olivia Barcarse
  First Vice President, Branch Banking Group
  BDO Unibank, Inc.
• Atty. Alvin C. Go
  Legal Service Group Head
  BDO Unibank, Inc.
• Atty. Paul Roderick A. Ysmael
  Senior Vice President
  Bank of the Philippine Islands
• Atty. Cesar Bernard R. Coloma
  Vice President, Head of Litigation
  Bank of the Philippine Islands
• Atty. Marino M. Buban, Jr.
  First Vice President/Head of Legal Service Division
  EastWest Bank
• Joselito B. Vallada
  Senior Vice President, Legal Services Group
  Landbank of the Philippines
• Atty. Janella Marie R. Panlilio
  Head of Legal and Remedial Services Group
  Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company
• Atty. Jose M. Manuel Jr.
  Head of Legal Services Division
  Philippine Savings Bank
• Rodel C. Mediavillo
  Branch Review and Control Unit Head
  Philippine Savings Bank
• May Ann R. Candaroma-Morales
  Loan Securities Department Head
  Philippine Savings Bank
• Atty. Joseph Anthony P. Lopez
  Head of Legal / First Vice President
  Security Bank
• Atty. Joseph Anthony P. Lopez
  Head of Legal / First Vice President
  Security Bank
• Louiemel P. Panes
  Branch Ambassador
  UnionBank of the Philippines
• Rogelio C. Villos, Jr.
  Senior Branch AmbassadorUnionBank of the Philippines
• Jayah Deneserie B. Scalf
  Branch Ambassador
  UnionBank of the Philippines
• Gemma Lynn L. Del Mundo
  Senior Branch Ambassador
  UnionBank of the Philippines

The impeachment trial was put on hold to give way to Senate committee hearings on the proposed 2027 national budget. The proceedings will resume on Monday, November 9, with Duterte’s defense team beginning its presentation of evidence.

The defense earlier asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena former law school dean Ralph Sarmiento as its first witness, but the constitutional law expert declined the request. – Rappler.com