Abante: I fell asleep because defense’s questions are boring

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. has admitted that he fell asleep during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, but he reasoned out that it was due to her lawyers’ boring questions in their cross examination.

In an interview on Monday while the Senate Impeachment Court was on a break, Abante said that he enjoys listening to arguments raised by the prosecution and the defense, but once the defense starts to bore him, he falls asleep.

“Gising na ako ah,” Abante joked. “Hindi, kasi, nakaka-antok ’yong ano eh, mga tanong ng defense lawyers eh, kaya medyo nakatulog ako eh.”

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(I’m already awake. No, because, the questions of the defense lawyers lull me to sleep. That’s why I dozed off.)

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“Hindi na eh, hindi ko narinig ’yong sinabi ni Senator (Francis) Chiz (Escudero). Pero alam mo, eh masarap makinig pero kapag malamya na ’yong mga tanong ng defense lawyers, nakaka-antok na,” he added.

(No, I wasn’t able to hear what Senator (Francis) Chiz (Escudero) said. But you know, I enjoy listening to the arguments, but when the defense lawyers’ questions turn sloppy, it’s sleepy.)

READ: Escudero offers Abante to ‘rest somewhere else’ after dozing at trial

It was Escudero, presiding officer of the Senate Impeachment Court, who noticed that Abante was dozing off while senator-judges were asking Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Division Chief Rendell Sopeña about matters related to his testimony.

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Escudero offered Abante to “rest somewhere else,” asking public prosecutor Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor and prosecution spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to “kindly nudge” the Manila solon as he may want to rest “but at least not behind the witness.”

“Before calling on Senator Joel Villanueva, may I ask Congressman Defensor, Congressman Barbers to kindly nudge Cong. Benny a bit? It seems he’s tired. He may want to rest somewhere, but at least not right behind the witness,” Escudero said.

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Lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro joked that she thinks that Abante, a pastor, is praying for them. However, Escudero said he doubts that.

“Your Honor, I think he’s praying for us,” Luistro said. “He’s praying for the prosecution, your Honor.”

“Um, I doubt that,” Escudero replied. “Senator-judge Joel Villanueva is recognized; you have two minutes. It’s been a long day, I guess, for (Cong. Benny) because they just approved the budget last week.”

READ: Defense must explain Sara Duterte’s Gencorp interest – Tolosa

The prosecution has finished presenting Sopeña and Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) chief P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang during the trial on Monday—the fifth and sixth witness for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article II delves into allegations that Duterte has unexplained wealth, and that she did not disclose all her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Sangalang was called to the witness stand to testify about the firearms of Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio.

With the prosecution finishing their presentation of Sopeña and Sangalang, the panel is expected to call Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, brother of the vice president, to the witness stand so he can shed light on the contracts entered into by the local government with Gencorp Industries Inc.

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The prosecution claims that contracts are anomalous since Vice President Duterte had declared financial interest in Gencorp—even if corporate records show that she was not listed as a shareholder. /cb