Ex-law dean withdraws as defense witness in Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Former law school dean Ralph Sarmiento has withdrawn as a defense witness for Vice President Sara Duterte in her ongoing impeachment trial. Sarmiento stated he wants to preserve the independence of his constitutional scholarship and avoid his legal views being tied to the proceedings.
Why it matters
The loss of a key expert witness complicates the defense's strategy in a high-stakes political impeachment case involving allegations of corruption and constitutional violations.
MANILA, Philippines - A former law school dean who was invited by the team of Vice President Sara Duterte has declined to testify for the defense.
In a statement on Thursday, November 5, former University of St. La Salle College of Law dean Ralph Sarmiento said that he was declining the defense panel's invitation to "preserve the independence" of his "constitutional law scholarship" and the impartiality of his legal views and opinions.
"I had not anticipated that these views might potentially become part of the impeachment proceedings," Sarmiento said.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to decline participation as a witness in the proceedings," he added.
Sarmiento said that he had already reached out to the defense team, asking it to withdraw its request for a subpoena or his appearance.
The former law school dean was supposed to be the first witness to be presented by the defense team.
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