LIST: Defense team’s possible witnesses in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte listed more than 90 identified and unnamed witnesses in her upcoming impeachment trial.

Dozens of those names, however, are personalities associated with the prosecution, prompting the latter to ask the impeachment court to compel the defense team to specify the purpose of their inclusion in the defense’s list.

The names include Duterte’s self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Ombudsman Boying Remulla, and National Bureau of Investigation chief Melvin Matibag.

Based on the defense team’s pre-trial brief, a copy of which was obtained by Rappler, Duterte’s camp offered a general justification to call in the said witnesses: “to disprove the allegations in the articles of impeachment, prove the material allegations in the Answer dated May 26, 2026, identify documents, and establish such other matters related to foregoing.”

The prosecution has expressed curiosity as to whether the personalities listed by the defense team will be treated as hostile witnesses during the full trial proper.

The full list, which can be accessed below, may still be shortened, depending on agreements that will be made between the prosecution and the defense team during the pre-trial proceedings.

1. Duterte’s self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga
2. Notary public who notarized the affidavit dated November 29, 2025 and supplemental affidavit dated April 11, 2026 of Ramil Madriaga 
3. Marivic Pareja and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service of the House of Representatives
4. NBI chief Melvin Matibag, and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the NBI
5. Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.) and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the NBI
6. Assistant Director Glenn Ricarte and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the NBI
7. Carolyn Moldez-Pitoy and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the NBI’s questioned documents division
8. Antonio Magbojos and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the NBI’s questioned documents division
9. Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the Philippines Statistics Authority
10. Gloria Camora and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office
11. Former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the Office of the Executive Secretary 
12. Former Department of Budget and Management secretary Amenah Pangandaman and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, of the DBM
13. Ombusdman Jesus Crispin Remulla and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, from the Office of the Ombudsman 
14. Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura and/or at least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, of the AMLC
15. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV
16. The notary public who notarized the affidavit dated April 21, 2026 of Antonio Trillanes IV
17. Securities and Exchange Commission director Gerardo Del Rosario and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, from the SEC
18. Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza and/or a representative, official, and/or employee, whether former or current, from the BIR
19. Former Department of Education undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado
20. Agent John Mark Calilung of the NBI
21. Special agent Jeremy Lotoc of the NBI
22. Special agent Homer Angluben of the NBI
23. Al Matthew Umali of the NBI
24. Ria Vanessa Asuncion of the NBI
25. Yenti Malicad of the NBI
26. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, of the Office of Ombudsman-Mindanao
27. At least six representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, permanent or temporary, of the City Government of Davao City
28. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, of the Office of the President
29. At least five representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the COA
30. At least seven representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the DepEd
31. At least seven representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the OVP
32. At least five representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group
33. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the DOJ
34. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the NBI
35. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the Land Transportation Office
36. At least two representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
37. At least five representatives, officials, and/or employees, whether former or current, of other National Government Agencies
38. At least five representatives, directors, officers, owners, and/or employees, whether former or current, from the corporations, entities, or businesses listed in the respondent’s SALNs 
39. At least two representatives, officials, employees, whether former or current, of the Civil Service Commission
40. At least five representatives and/or employees and/or investigative journalists, whether current or former, of media outlets, and/or social media news outlets
41. At least five expert witnesses
42. At least three forensic accountants
43. Notary public of any and all documentary evidence, including but not limited to affidavits, documents, and/or contracts, that will be presented either by the defense or the prosecution during the course of the trial
44. Signatories and/or witnesses of any and all documentary evidence, including but not limited to affidavits, documents, and/or contracts, that will be presented either by the defense or the prosecution during the course of the trial
45. Witnesses who will controvert, refute, and/or disprove any and all testimonial, object, and/or documentary evidence that will be presented by the prosecution during the course of trial

– Rappler.com