VP defense may rely on objections at trial — lawmaker

VICE-PRESIDENT (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s defense team might rely on procedural objections during her Senate impeachment trial after failing to directly address the allegations against her in its answer to the articles of impeachment, a congressman-prosecutor said.

“Their answer will probably be like that because they [have] no answer,” Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua, a member of the House of Representatives prosecution panel, said in a statement in Filipino on Sunday. “They will probably rely on objections during the trial.”

The lawmaker said Ms. Duterte’s response to the charges did not address the constitutional violations and other allegations cited in the impeachment complaint.

Ms. Duterte’s defense team did not immediately reply to a request for comment sent via Viber.

Mr. Chua said the development underscores the importance of the impeachment court’s presiding officer, who will rule on objections and procedural issues raised by both the prosecution and defense.

“Even if our evidence is strong, if the presiding officer or the senator-judges do not allow it, the evidence will be worthless,” he added.

He noted that under the Senate impeachment court’s amended rules, senators may choose a presiding officer other than the Senate president.

Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon on Friday said the House prosecution panel plans to present fresh evidence related to assets owned by Ms. Duterte and her husband that he said were not declared in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) from 2007 to 2024.

The pieces of evidence involve assets of the Vice-President and her husband that appear in the records of a government agency but were not listed in any of her SALN submissions, Mr. Ridon told reporters.

He said the evidence was not presented during proceedings before the House Justice Committee and would be introduced during the pre-trial stage.

He added that the evidence relates to the article of impeachment involving unexplained wealth.

The House prosecution panel is expected to disclose details of the evidence in its pre-trial brief, which it plans to submit next week along with its list of witnesses and documentary evidence. Mr. Ridon credited Mr. Chua with uncovering the information. — Pexcel John Bacon