The House of Representatives prosecution panel has defended its bid to present evidence in Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio's impeachment trial, arguing that accountability should take precedence over procedural objections.
Representative Joel R. Chua stated that there is no reason to block the presentation of evidence if Ms. Duterte has nothing to hide. "If there is nothing to hide, what is the reason for not allowing the presentation of evidence?" he asked. "That way, our fellow citizens can see whether there is really sufficient evidence or none at all against our Vice-President."
The prosecution panel emphasized that impeachment is a constitutional accountability process rather than a criminal proceeding, and that the Rules of Court serve only as a guide in impeachment proceedings. "We cannot apply the strict implementation of the Rules of Court because this is not a court of law," Mr. Chua said. "Accountability remains paramount here, and alongside accountability is evidence."
House prosecution counsel Lorna Patajo-Kapunan cited Philippine laws that recognize impeachment as an exception to bank secrecy and confidentiality rules, allowing the impeachment court to subpoena bank and tax records. She pointed out that during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, bank records were admitted as evidence, and the same principle applies in Ms. Duterte's case.
The prosecution panel rejected the defense's argument that its request for bank and tax records amounts to a "fishing expedition" because the documents were not attached to the impeachment complaint. Representative Chua stated that the issue had been overtaken by events because the case is now in the trial stage and the subpoena requests had already been identified in the parties' pretrial briefs.
Meanwhile, the prosecution expects to complete the presentation of evidence for the impeachment article involving allegations of grave threats and inciting to sedition by Tuesday through the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin A. Matibag.
Ms. Kapunan stated that Mr. Matibag will discuss the status of the NBI probe and authenticate evidence, including the chain of custody of the video in which Ms. Duterte allegedly said she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez if anything happened to her.
La Union Representative Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V said the NBI chief's testimony would be significant because he has access to the bureau's records and other information related to the investigation.
The Senate impeachment court may not rule on Monday on the prosecution's request to subpoena Ms. Duterte's financial records because the documents relate to the second article of impeachment, which will be taken up later in the trial.
Impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol stated that the senator-judges have the discretion to defer action because the requested records are not immediately needed.
He noted that the impeachment court had already approved subpoenas for four witnesses under the first article of impeachment after lead prosecutor Batangas Representative Gerville R. Luistro moved for their issuance during Wednesday's proceedings.
Mr. Tongol said the requests involving financial records require more careful consideration because they involve privacy and confidentiality laws.
The prosecution has presented two witnesses on the fourth article of impeachment, which includes allegations that Ms. Duterte made grave threats and incited sedition through statements about an alleged assassination plot against the President, the First Lady, and Mr. Romualdez.
Prosecutors are expected to finish presenting evidence for that article by the end of July, Mr. Tongol said.
