Prosecution: Disclosure of Sara Duterte and husband's tax, bank records serves public interest

Senator-judges should allow the disclosure of the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and businesses linked to them, as doing so would best serve the public interest, the prosecution team said on Wednesday.

House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong and private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. made the call ahead of the expected oral arguments on Wednesday afternoon on whether the Senate impeachment court should subpoena the tax and bank records of the Vice President, her husband, and their affiliated businesses.

The prosecution intends to present these records as evidence for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges that Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust through the following acts:

* amassing unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official;
* failing to fully and truthfully disclose all of her and her spouse's assets, liabilities, and net worth in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), including those for 2022, 2023, and 2024; and
* failing to divest, and instead willfully continuing to hold, her business interests during her tenure as vice president from 2022 to 2025.

"It would best serve the public interest if all relevant documents, testimonies, and witnesses are made available for the court's consideration," Adiong said during a press conference.

"This call is in line with respecting the Senate's sole constitutional mandate to try and decide impeachment cases," he said.

Tolosa said the prosecution's position is consistent with the purpose of an impeachment trial, which is to ensure accountability by allowing the court to examine all relevant evidence, regardless of whether it ultimately supports the prosecution or the defense.

"After all, purpose nitong impeachment proceedings na 'to is to exact accountability. 'Yan ang hinihingi rin ng mga tao. Bakit hindi natin tingnan lahat ng mga ebidensya na makakapagpakita kung ano ba ang katotohanan? The truth can only emerge through a full presentation of the evidence before the impeachment court,” Tolosa said.

(After all, the purpose of these impeachment proceedings is to exact accountability. That's also what the people are asking for. Why shouldn't we examine all the evidence that could show the truth? The truth can only emerge through a full presentation of the evidence before the impeachment court.)

"Huwag nating pangunahan at huwag nating katakutan 'yung paglatag ng ebidensya. Our position is very clear. Of course, we respect the authority of the impeachment court to rule on this matter. But just the same, ang posisyon namin, we don't see any reason why we should not allow the introduction of these documents in these impeachment proceedings," he added.

(Let's not prejudge the case or be afraid of presenting the evidence. Our position is very clear. Of course, we respect the authority of the impeachment court to rule on this matter. But just the same, we don't see any reason why we should not allow the introduction of these documents in these impeachment proceedings.) —VBL, GMA News