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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Robin Padilla grills prosecutor Luistro over Lascañas affidavit: 'Isn't he lying?'

Robin Padilla grills prosecutor Luistro over Lascañas affidavit: 'Isn't he lying?'

Published Jul 22, 2026 04:40 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator-judge Robin Padilla questioned the credibility of Arturo Lascañas' affidavit, arguing that a witness who gives conflicting statements is unreliable, prompting Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero to say such a witness may have lied in one statement and told the truth in another.
  • The senator-judge urged the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses facing perjury allegations, specifically mentioning NBI agents Jeremy Lotoc and John Mark Calilung, but House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said the prosecution had verified that no cases were pending against its witnesses.
  • Luistro clarified that the ICC was mentioned only in relation to Lascañas' affidavit, which resurfaced during NBI Director Melvin Matibag's testimony and was presented as part of the bureau's investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged threats against top government officials.
Senator-judge Robin Padilla on Wednesday, July 22, questioned the credibility of an affidavit involving self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Arturo Lascañas, as he argued that witnesses who give conflicting statements should not be relied upon in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
House lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro and Senator-judge Robin Padilla (Senate PRIB photo)
House lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro and Senator-judge Robin Padilla (Senate PRIB photo)
During the trial, House lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro was asked by Padilla, citing Lascañas' sworn statements, saying the former police officer had given inconsistent accounts about the alleged involvement of former President Rodrigo Duterte in extrajudicial killings.
Padilla noted that in an October 3, 2016 affidavit, Lascañas allegedly said Rodrigo Duterte had no involvement, but gave a different version in later statements.
"What do you call a person who keeps changing his story? Isn't that lying?" Padilla asked in Filipino.
Luistro initially declined to directly answer, saying the question was hypothetical and that the affidavit had merely been presented as part of a witness's testimony.
Presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero later intervened, reframing the question.
Escudero asked whether a witness who gives varying testimonies at different times could be considered an unreliable witness.
"Without particular reference to Arturo Lascañas, I agree with you," Luistro replied.
Escudero added that it would be difficult to determine which version, if any, was truthful, saying such a witness could have lied in one statement and told the truth in another.
Padilla then appealed to the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses facing perjury allegations, saying he had even proposed increasing penalties for the offense through legislation.
He specifically mentioned prosecution witnesses NBI Special Task Force agents Jeremy Lotoc and John Mark Calilung, claiming they were facing perjury complaints.
"Can we avoid having witnesses like these? The person on trial here was elected by 32 million Filipinos," Padilla said.
Luistro disputed the assertion, saying the prosecution had verified that no cases were pending against its witnesses.
"In addition, conviction is not a ground for disqualification unless it is final, punishable by more than one year, and involves moral turpitude," she added.
The exchange briefly became heated after Padilla accused the prosecution of being one-sided, prompting reactions inside the impeachment court.
Escudero ordered the Senate sergeant-at-arms to restore order after the proceedings were interrupted.
The discussion later shifted to the prosecution's reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Padilla asking why it was being mentioned during the trial.
Luistro explained that the ICC was brought up only in connection with Lascañas' affidavit, which had been presented as part of NBI Director Melvin Matibag's testimony and the bureau's investigation.
Lascañas' affidavit resurfaced during Matibag's testimony earlier in the day, after the NBI chief was questioned about the bureau's investigation into Vice President Duterte's alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The affidavit included claims by the former self-confessed DDS member that Sara Duterte had been among the architects of the anti-drug campaign known as "Oplan Tokhang."

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Robin Padilla Prosecution panel Vice President Sara Duterte Rodrigo Duterte
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