HOUSE impeachment adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers on Wednesday challenged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s defense team to directly confront the prosecution’s documentary evidence, stressing that the impeachment trial must be decided on facts, financial records and constitutional accountability—not political alliances or public theatrics.
Barbers said the defense cannot simply overwhelm the proceedings with witnesses, lengthy arguments or procedural objections while leaving fundamental questions about the Vice President’s declared wealth, income, assets and financial transactions unanswered.
“Hindi dami ng testigo ang sukatan ng katotohanan. Ang mahalaga ay kung masasagot nila ang mga dokumento at numerong inilatag ng prosekusyon,” he said.
The former Surigao del Norte congressman and governor stressed that the crucial issue is whether Duterte’s declared assets and liabilities in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) can be reconciled with the financial records and other documentary evidence presented by the prosecution.
The defense, he said, must explain whether her declared income reasonably accounts for the accumulation of her wealth and whether all business interests, investments and other financial holdings were properly disclosed.
“Kung tama at malinis ang lahat ng transaksyon, dapat kayang ipaliwanag ang bawat numero. Hindi sapat ang pagtanggi o pagdududa sa mga dokumento. Kailangang sagutin ang mga ito ng malinaw, konkretong paliwanag at katibayan,” Barbers said.
The solon from Mindanao emphasized that the impeachment proceedings must not be reduced to a contest of political influence, personalities or competing propaganda machines.
The Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, has a constitutional responsibility to independently examine the evidence, resolve the issues and determine whether the allegations have been established under the Constitution and applicable rules, he said.
Barbers also cautioned against allowing procedural disputes, political maneuvering or unnecessary delays to undermine the purpose of the trial. While the defense is entitled to challenge evidence and present its case, such rights should not be used to frustrate the timely administration of justice.
“May karapatan ang depensa na ipagtanggol ang kanilang kliyente, pero hindi dapat maging dahilan ang prosesong ito para takasan ang mga seryosong tanong na kailangang sagutin,” he said.
He urged senator-judges to rise above partisan considerations and discharge their duties with independence, fairness and fidelity to the Constitution. “Their responsibility is not to protect political allies or punish political opponents, but to weigh the evidence impartially and render a decision based on the merits of the case.”
“Ang impeachment trial ay hindi paligsahan ng kasikatan, kapangyarihan o political loyalty. Ito ay pagsusuri sa pananagutan ng isang mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno. Let the documents speak. Let the numbers be examined. And let the truth determine the outcome,” Barbers concluded.
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