THE House prosecution on Wednesday said the Senate impeachment court should have access to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s bank and tax records, along with other relevant evidence, to ensure senator-judges have the complete factual picture needed to render an impartial verdict.
House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said allowing the presentation of relevant documents, testimonies and witnesses would enable the impeachment court to fully exercise its constitutional mandate.
“Ito’y isa doon sa panawagan at pagrerespeto din sa mandato po ng Senado to try and decide an impeachment case. Dahil unang-una pa, mabibigyan po ang impeachment court ng lahat ng angulo… with all the complete evidence and the whole picture in order for them to appreciate and eventually to arrive into impartial and sound judgment,” Alonto Adiong said during a press briefing.
He said the impeachment trial would best serve the public interest if all relevant documents, testimonies and witnesses are made available for the court’s consideration.
“Mas maganda po para sa amin, ‘yung isang trial ay accessible ang lahat ng mga relevant na dokumento, testimonya at witnesses para ang korte ay mabigyan ng whole picture o lahat ng kinakailangang dokumento para ma-exercise nila ang kanilang trabaho at mag-render din ng mas appropriate at proper na resolusyon o judgment,” he said.
The House prosecution made the statement ahead of the Senate impeachment court’s oral arguments on its request to subpoena Duterte’s bank and tax records for use in the impeachment trial.
The records are intended to support Article II of the impeachment complaint, which alleges unexplained wealth and the nondisclosure of assets in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution fully respects the impeachment court’s authority to decide whether the subpoenas should be issued, but maintained there is no reason to prevent the requested records from being presented.
“Hayaan natin, huwag nating pangunahan at huwag nating katakutan ‘yung paglatag ng ebidensya,” Tolosa said.
“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.
Tolosa said the objective of the impeachment trial is to exact 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 din ng mga tao. Bakit hindi natin tingnan lahat ng mga ebidensya na makakapagpakita kung ano ba ang katotohanan? Kung makakabuti ito or hindi makabuti sa magkabilang panig o kanino man,” he said.
He added that the truth can only emerge through a full presentation of the evidence before the impeachment court.
“Kung merong kakatakutan, siguro ‘yung paghadlang sa ebidensya,” Tolosa said.
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