Manila: The House prosecution on Wednesday stated that the Senate impeachment court should access Vice President Sara Duterte's bank and tax records, along with other pertinent evidence, to ensure senator-judges have a complete factual picture necessary for an impartial verdict.
According to Philippines News Agency, House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized the importance of presenting relevant documents, testimonies, and witnesses to enable the impeachment court to fully exercise its constitutional mandate. Adiong highlighted that providing the impeachment court with all angles and complete evidence is essential for making an impartial and sound judgment.
The statement from the House prosecution comes ahead of the Senate impeachment court's oral arguments on its request to subpoena Duterte's financial records for the upcoming impeachment trial. These records are intended to support Article II of the impeachment complaint, which alleges unexplained wealth and the nondisclosure of assets in Duterte's Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr. stated that the prosecution sought subpoenas for the tax and bank records early to support the allegations in Article II of the Articles of Impeachment concerning Duterte's purported unexplained wealth. Tolosa noted that presenting this evidence earlier was crucial to prevent delays, anticipating opposition from the defense.
Tolosa added that the charge of unexplained wealth would be backed by documentary evidence from relevant government agencies, including Duterte's SALNs and records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). During the House Committee on Justice hearings, the AMLC submitted a report indicating PHP7.7 billion in deposits and withdrawals flagged as "covered" and "suspicious."
Additionally, the Office of the Ombudsman provided the committee with copies of Duterte's SALNs, revealing an increase in her declared net worth from PHP7.5 million when she was Davao City mayor in 2006 to PHP88 million in 2024.
Tolosa affirmed the prosecution's respect for the impeachment court's authority to decide on issuing subpoenas, asserting that there is no reason to block the requested records from being presented. He emphasized the importance of allowing the introduction of these documents in the impeachment proceedings to ensure accountability and uncover the truth.
Tolosa reiterated the need for a full presentation of evidence before the impeachment court to determine the truth, regardless of whether it ultimately benefits the prosecution or the defense. He concluded by stressing that obstructing evidence is the only thing to fear in the pursuit of justice.
