Witnesses in GMA case down from 42 to 12

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) prosecutors have agreed in principle to limit presentation of evidence and witnesses in the electoral sabotage case against former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo and former Maguindanao election officer Lintang Bedol.

Prosecutor Juana Maria Valesa said that they would trim down their witnesses from 42 to 12 or less to speed up bail hearings before Judge Jesus Mupas of Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112.

Valesa said they have already submitted more than 100 documents that include the Certificate of Canvass (COC), election-related directives, and reports in connection with the May 2007 midterm elections in Maguindanao.

She said that they would pursue the theory of conspiracy among the accused Arroyo, Bedol and former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.

“We will present witnesses to collaborate documentary evidence,” she said.

Defense lawyer Benjamin Santos welcomed the trimming down of witnesses and presentation of documents in the bail hearings to prove that there is a strong case against Arroyo.

“The bail hearings would only determine if there is strong evidence against the former president,” he said.

The bail hearings would resume today and the Comelec is expected to submit more documents to be marked and also present witnesses to verify the documents.

“We will be presenting surprise witnesses to prove our case,” Valesa said.

Valesa said the Comelec has clarified that only the COC from Maguindanao and not the election returns was submitted to the court.

She said the municipal election returns of Maguindanao were missing and were not submitted to the Comelec by Bedol.

The COC that was canvassed by Bedol showed that Luis Singson was the leading senatorial candidate in Maguindanao in the 2007 elections.