"THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT": Luistro Exposes VP Sara’s Biggest Trial Mistake! #attybueno

The central issue revolves around Vice President Sara Duterte’s refusal to personally appear and take the witness stand in her Senate impeachment trial. The Prosecution's Stance: Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro argued that attending the trial is a "constitutional duty" and that VP Sara’s personal testimony was necessary to directly rebut bank records and financial evidence under oath. Luistro emphasized that "things would have been different" if she had attended, as her absence forced the prosecution to adapt by dropping three articles (Articles I, III, and IV) and concentrating their case entirely on Article II (SALN violations and unexplained wealth). The Rhetoric: Private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan framed VP Sara's non-appearance as "consistent with guilt," publicly warning her that "your end is nearing" as the prosecution finalized its evidence on the remaining wealth charge. The Defense & Legal Position: The Vice President’s camp countered that exercising her right not to take the stand is a valid legal strategy and due process right, asserting that choosing to appear through counsel does not imply guilt or diminish accountability.