The House prosecution has dropped Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, and security official Belinda Bello as witnesses in the impeachment trial. Prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said Tuesday their testimony under Article IV had become unnecessary, redundant or merely corroborative following evidence presented by two National Bureau of Investigation officials. Lopez was expected to authenticate a video of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference, but Kapunan said the defense had already acknowledged the event and used the same recording. Bello’s testimony would have merely corroborated a detention-facility transfer order involving Lopez, Kapunan said. Senator-judges welcomed the move that helps in shortening the trial period.(Marjohara Tucay)
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Context Dispatch
American marine biologist killed in Negros Oriental
American marine biologist Kent Edward Carpenter was shot dead during a robbery at his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, police said. Three masked men allegedly broke into the 73-year-old's residence late Sunday, with one suspect fatally shooting Carpenter while the others assaulted his Filipina companion and stole valuables. No arrests have been made. Authorities have formed a special investigation task group and are pursuing robbery, professional and personal motives. Carpenter was a renowned marine biologist and an expert witness in the Philippines' South China Sea arbitration case. This is the 10th anniversary of the WPS ruling. (Marjohara Tucay)
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