Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says the House prosecution panel intends to present the impeachment article on bribery after it completes its presentation of evidence on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5-million confidential funds.

Ridon, a member of the prosecution team, made the clarification following earleir prouncements that the article on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth would be tackled next.

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This prospective change in sequence was floated after private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan raised how Duterte’s personal foreign travels could become relevant to the unexplained wealth case.

“Wala pa naman po pagpapasya yung panel kung magtutuloy na po sa unexplained wealth,” said Ridon, who added that the one about bribery could be next.

(There has been no decision yet from the panel on whether to proceed to the unexplained wealth article.)

The four impeachment articles cover Duterte’s alleged threats to have President Marcos assassinated, the misuse confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), bribery of DepEd officials, and her unexplained wealth.

The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence on the case on the death threat article but has yet to wrap up its presentation of witnesses for the misuse of confidential funds.

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“I think tapusin muna namin ‘yung confidential funds misuse bago namin pagpasyahan ‘yung susunod na order or sequencing nitong paglalatag po ebidensya,” he said.

(I think we should first finish the confidential funds misuse before deciding on the next order or sequencing of presenting evidence.)

“But as far as the panel is concerned, tingin ko tuloy pa rin toward bribery yung presentasyon ng ebidensya namin.”

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(But as far as the panel is concerned, I think we are still moving forward toward bribery in our evidence presentation.)

Before moving to another article, Ridon says prosecutors are preparing additional witnesses to complete what they consider necessary portions of the confidential funds case.

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“Inaasahan natin sa susunod ring linggo maisalang yung iba pang mga witnesses katulad ni Mr. Edward Fajarda, iyung iba pang mga relevant OVP personnel katulad ni (Lemuel) Ortonio at maisalang na rin yung NBI, PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) at iba pang mga very relevant witnesses dito sa confidential funds sa misuse article,” the lawmaker said.

(We expect next week to present other witnesses such as Mr. Edward Fajarda, other relevant OVP personnel like Lemuel Ortonio, and also the NBI, PSA, and other very relevant witnesses in this confidential funds misuse article.)

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The prosecution has been reassessing its line-up after every witness presentation to determine whether additional testimony would still contribute substantially to the case.

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Ridon said completing the confidential funds presentation as quickly as the evidence permits would allow the panel to proceed to the two charges that remain unheard.

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