Trillanes says he chose to withdraw as impeachment witness

October 1, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said it was his own decision to withdraw as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial so that the prosecution panel would be relieved from the “pressure” it is experiencing.

“Earlier in the day, I requested the House prosecution under Chair Jinky Luistro to formally withdraw my name as a witness for the prosecution. This way, the prosecution panel would be relieved from the pressure it is going through,” Trillanes said in a statement.

But Trillanes said he would still speak up in a different venue.

He said he would hold a press conference on Friday to present the matters he was supposed to reveal during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Impeachment Court earlier that it has dropped Trillanes as a witness.

The prosecution would proceed to present the Anti-Money Laundering Council and bank officials in relation to unexplained wealth allegations against Duterte.