MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has listed her accusers, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Ramil Madriaga, as witnesses in her upcoming impeachment trial before the Senate impeachment court.

In a report, it said the two were included in the defense panel’s pre-trial brief submitted on June 15, where they were identified as witnesses intended to rebut the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment.

The defense said the purpose of presenting the witnesses is “to disprove the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment, establish that the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment are mere conclusions of law and fact” and to identify documents and support related matters.

“Since the burden of proof never shifts, it is incumbent upon the Prosecution to prove their allegations in the Articles of Impeachment,” the defense panel’s pre-trial brief read.

Aside from Trillanes and Madriaga, the Vice President’s witness list includes officials and representatives from multiple government agencies, including the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Budget and Management, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Education, Office of the President, and other national government agencies and local government units.

Also included are forensic experts, accountants, investigative journalists, notaries public, and witnesses tied to various documentary and testimonial evidence to be presented by both the defense and prosecution.

The defense said additional witnesses may still be presented depending on developments during trial proceedings.

“Until the prosecution is able to present any such credible, competent, and admissible evidence, the respondent reserves the right to present additional controverting evidence,” the pre-trial brief added.

The Articles of Impeachment approved by the House for Senate action accuse the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

These include alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, failure to properly disclose assets in SALNs, continued business interests while in office, alleged inducement of officials in procurement violations, and alleged grave threats and incitement of sedition against top state officials.

The impeachment complaint also cited findings and testimonies from House hearings, including COA notices of disallowance on confidential funds, NBI document examinations, PSA records showing questionable identities of fund recipients, AMLC reports on suspicious transactions, and other pieces of evidence presented during congressional investigations.