The defense team for impeached Vice President Sara Duterte plans to keep some of its 90 witnesses secret for security reasons and present them as surprise witnesses during the trial if needed.
Defense spokesman Michael Poa said the team submitted its pre-trial brief at the same time as the House prosecution panel. He rejected claims that the defense copied the prosecutors' list of at least 57 witnesses.
The Senate impeachment court approved a 92-day trial under a pre-trial order signed June 29 by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. This sets 62 trial dates for prosecutors and 30 for the defense.
Poa noted the team has prepared for over a year and may not call all 90 witnesses. The number will depend on how the prosecution presents its case. He said some witness names were withheld for security reasons as allowed in pre-trial guidelines.
