Manila: The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday acknowledged the official existence of hearings and records from the House of Representatives linked to the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. However, the court ruled that the contents of these records could not automatically be accepted as proof.
According to Philippines News Agency, presiding officer Francis Escudero granted the prosecution's motion for judicial notice, but only to confirm that the hearings were conducted by the House committees on justice and on good government and public accountability. He clarified that while transcripts, audiovisual recordings, and committee reports exist as official records, their substance is not judicially admitted. Escudero emphasized that the ruling did not validate the truth of statements made during the hearings or the accuracy of factual allegations within the committee report. He stated that these matters would still require authentication, formal presentation, and evaluation under rules concerning hearsay, relevance, and admissibility.
Escudero further asserted that the defense must be afforded a fair chance to challenge evidence and confront witnesses whose statements are being used against Duterte. He noted that witnesses would not be permitted to read third-party statements in open court that are not their own.
In a related matter, the impeachment court allowed the transfer of exhibit markings for parts of a purported affidavit by retired police officer Arturo Lasca±as, despite objections from the defense. Escudero explained that transferring markings from provisional copies to certified true copies was simply a ministerial act, not an admission of the document as evidence. He maintained that the Lasca±as document could only demonstrate that it was part of the National Bureau of Investigation's inquiry, not to prove the truth of its allegations. The document remains unsigned and unauthorized, with no witness attesting to its execution or content, thus remaining hearsay.
The court also approved subpoenas for four prosecution witnesses set to testify from August 10 to 12. The witnesses include Xylene May Del Campo from the Commission on Audit Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office; Marivic Pareja from the House Legislative Information Resources Management Department; former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta; and former Department of Education special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda. Escudero ordered subpoenas for their testimony and related documents as requested by the prosecution.
The impeachment trial was adjourned and is scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on Monday.
