Prosecution's Kapunan says she couldn't read because 'Andy Lim,' defense's Poa objects

Prosecution lawyer Atty. Lorna Kapunan made comments in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on the names on the acknowledgment receipts covering the confidential funds released by the Office of the Vice President, putting on record what appeared to be a play of words in the identities of the recipients.

This didn't sit well with defense lawyer Atty. Michael Poa, who objected to Kapunan's comments, saying she was giving color to the documents beyond what they cotained.

At the trial, Kapunan presented acknowledgment receipts for Renan Piattos, Nova Santos, Mico Harina, Janice Marie Revilla, Patty Ting, Andy Lim, and Alejandro Pikit, among others.

Upon presenting Lim’s acknowledgment receipt, Kapunan said, “Kaya ko pala hindi mabasa ang dilim. Para kay Andy Lim, P50,000.”

“Kung merong Andy Lim, siguro dahil Pikit,” Kapunan said.

(So that’s why I could not read it because it’s dark. For Andy Lim, that’s P50,000. If there's Andy Lim, may because it's Pikit.)

Andy Lim sound like "ang dilim" which which in Filipino means, "It's dark." "Pikit, on the other hand, means having one's eyes closed.

Poa objected.

“I’ve been giving leeway to opposing counsel, but I think she’s been coloring the contents of the documents more than what is shown,” Poa said.

Kapunan replied that she was just reading the names.

“It says, Andy Lim. It’s like Patty Ting; that’s the way it’s spelled. And the next one, maybe you will object again, it’s Alejandro A. Pikit. I was going to say, kaya siguro madilim may pikit ang mata,” she said.

(It says, Andy Lim. It’s like Patty Ting; that’s the way it’s spelled. And the next one, maybe you will object again, it’s Alejandro A. Pikit. I was going to say, maybe it’s dark because the eyes are closed.)

Presiding Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero then advised Kapunan to proceed, saying he believed she knew what Poa was talking about.

Poa said he did not mean to offend Kapunan when he objected.

“With all due respect kay Atty. Kapunan, hindi ko naman po talagang gustong mag-object kung hindi kinakailangan. ‘Yun lang kasi nabibigyan kasi ng kulay pag ganoong mga pangalan,” Poa said in a press briefing.

“Although she stated naman for the record that she’s reading it the way it was written. But to me kasi, ang dating sa akin is nabibigyan ng kulay,” he added.

(Although she did state for the record that she was reading it exactly as it was written. But to me, it still comes across as giving the matter a certain color.)

Poa also said he respected Kapunan greatly.

“I think it was an interesting session today. Kaya lang, ‘yun nga, hindi pa tayo natatapos,” he said.

(I think it was an interesting session today, but the thing is, we've yet to be finished.)

When asked about the legal basis for the possible use of aliases for acknowledgment receipts, Poa said the trial is “not yet there.”

“I won’t discuss that. That’s not covered by the COA witnesses,” he said.

He said he was sure that this would be tackled at one point. –NB, GMA News