Palace remains clueless on how PNoy’s testimony will help Bong’s defense

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday said the government does not have any idea on how President Aquino’s testimony will help plunder accused, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

“How will their appearance or testimony add any iota of defense or assistance to his claim that he did not profit?” Lacierda said at a televised press briefing.

The reaction was made as a response to Revilla’s decision to include Aquino on his list of witnesses for the plunder trial.

Lacierda noted that there has never been an instance before that a president was summoned to testify in a case.

“It will be interesting to know.

It will be the first time [to have] a sitting president as a witness,” Lacierda said.

Aside from Aquino several officials were also including President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas II, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission of Audit chairman Grace Pulido-Tan were in the list of 27 witnesses by Revilla’s defense team.

Doubtful that the witnesses will contribute positively to Revilla’s case, Lacierda asks, “How will their appearance or testimony add any iota of defense or assistance to his claim that he did not profit?

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The officials, who are expecting the case to continue until 2016, also said that Aquino may still be invited to testify even after his term.