HOUSE private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan warned Friday that accepting Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s “hindi ko alam” defense in her impeachment trial would establish a dangerous precedent that lets public officials evade accountability simply by claiming ignorance of transactions linked to them.
“In my 48 years as a lawyer, I have never seen this kind of defense,” Kapunan said at a press briefing. “This is not good faith — this is bad faith; this is deception.” She emphasized that high‑ranking officials cannot plausibly disavow knowledge of financial records and business interests carried in their own names.
Kapunan illustrated her point with a hypothetical parallel: “Could a DPWH secretary credibly claim, ‘I did not know — my assistant released the ₱300‑million flood control funds’? Would the public accept that?” She noted that impeachment exists precisely to ensure accountability, and allowing such a defense would erode the standard of responsibility expected of public servants. “No public official should get away with saying ‘I did not know,’” Kapunan declared.
The prosecution has presented bank records, tax returns, and corporate filings alleging unexplained wealth and undeclared assets. Forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera estimated at least ₱817.87 million in unreported assets from 2022 to 2025 — a figure that could reach ₱1.5 billion under a broader review. These findings form the core of Article II, the sole remaining charge against Duterte. The defense has disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence and is scheduled to begin presenting its case before the Senate Impeachment Court on Monday, November 9.
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