HOUSE impeachment adviser and trial spokesperson Ace Barbers on Tuesday said even 91 defense witnesses may struggle to challenge the financial records presented against Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, saying much of the evidence came from her own sworn declarations and official documents.
“Kahit siguro 91 ‘yung kanilang witnesses na iyan, which I think, I’m not really sure if the 90 witnesses na kanilang sinasabi ay witnesses doon sa apat na articles or doon sa isang article. We’re limited only to Article II,” Barbers said in a press briefing.
Barbers, a former Surigao del Norte representative, made the statement when asked about defense lawyer Michael Poa’s disclosure that Duterte’s legal team had identified more than 90 witnesses for its presentation beginning Nov. 9.
“Talagang mahihirapan silang i-rebut o i-dispute ’yang mga ebidensyang ipinakikita natin sa impeachment court,” Barbers said.
“Bakit? ’Yan pong mga dokumentong iyan at ’yang mga ebidensyang iyan ay galing po mismo sa kanila. Galing po ito mismo sa kampo ng ating Bise Presidente,” he added.
Barbers cited Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), which showed no separate declarations of cash on hand or cash in banks from 2022 to 2025 despite bank records showing substantial year-end balances.
He said Duterte had previously declared cash holdings in her SALNs from 2007 to 2019.
“Are they going to say and dispute ’yung detalye na isinulat at sinumpaan ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo diyan sa kanyang SALN na kung saan ang isang mahalagang impormasyon diyan na walang cash on hand and cash in bank?” Barbers asked.
He also cited records from banks, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Barbers maintained that the challenge for the defense was not simply the number of witnesses it could present but whether their testimony could explain the differences between Duterte’s asset declarations and official financial records.
“So sa aking paniwala, gaya noong nabanggit ko, kahit 91 pa, mukhang mahihirapan sila ma-rebut o ma-refute ’yung mga dokumento na galing mismo sa bangko, galing sa BIR, galing sa AMLC, galing sa Ombudsman,” he said.
Defense spokesperson Poa earlier clarified that the more than 90 names represented identified and reserve witnesses, not necessarily the number who would actually testify.
He said the defense would determine its final lineup based on its strategy and the evidence needed to answer the remaining charge.
The Senate impeachment court accepted the prosecution’s withdrawal of three other articles involving confidential funds, grave threats and bribery, leaving only Article II for trial.
Duterte’s lawyers are scheduled to begin presenting their evidence November 9.
metrosundaily
