HOUSE prosecutor Terry L. Ridon of Ako Bicol Party-list on Friday disclosed that the House prosecution panel’s new evidence in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte involves assets allegedly linked to the Vice President and her husband that did not appear in her SALN submissions from 2007 to 2024.
Ridon made the disclosure during the launch of Bantay Impeachment at Claret School in UP Village, Quezon City as the House prosecutors prepared to submit their pretrial brief before the Senate impeachment court, where the panel is expected to identify evidence, witnesses and issues for the coming trial.
“Yung mga particular ebidensya po na ito, mayroong pong mga pag-aari ang pangalawang pangulo at ang kanya pong asawa at doon sa listahan po ng pag-aari ng particular na ahensya ng gobyerno pero hindi po ito nakatala sa kanya po pong SALN submissions sa kahit ano pong taon,” Ridon disclosed.
“So from 2007 to 2024 hindi po nakatala yun pong mga pag-aari po na ito,” he added.
More than 120 representatives from anti-corruption watchdogs, civil society organizations, people’s organizations, church groups, youth formations, and concerned citizens gathered today at Claret School in UP Village, Quezon City to formally launch Bantay Impeachment, a broad citizen watch campaign aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and public participation in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.
The launch comes amid growing public concern over uncertainties surrounding the impeachment trial, including the ongoing leadership crisis in the Senate and attempts by some political forces to delay, derail, or weaken the constitutional process.
Participants emphasized that impeachment is not merely a political contest among elites but a constitutional mechanism designed to uphold public accountability and ensure that no public official is above the law.
The disclosure directly goes to the article of impeachment on alleged unexplained wealth, one of the four charges transmitted by the House to the Senate against Duterte.
The Vice President also faces articles involving alleged misuse of public funds, bribery and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Ridon explained that the new evidence was not presented during the House Committee on Justice proceedings, making it a fresh addition to the prosecution’s case at the pretrial stage.
“(inaudible) ang evidence po na ito kasi hindi po ito nailatag doon sa House prosecution ng proceedings sa Justice Committee, ito po ay bagong-bago,” Ridon explained.
“So sa pretrial po ipapasok,” he added.
Ridon emphasized that there is no bar against presenting additional evidence before the close of pretrial, provided that the evidence supports the articles of impeachment already before the Senate.
“Wala hong nagbabawal sa prosecution panel na maglatag ng bagong ebidensya up until pretrial proceedings,” Ridon maintained.
“Kung ito po ay magseserbisyo doon po sa pagpapatunay noong pong mga batayan ng articles of impeachment,” he added.
The House prosecution panel is expected to disclose the details of the new evidence in its pretrial brief, which will set out the documents and witnesses it intends to present before the impeachment court.
“So, by next week, nakalagay naman po ito doon sa pretrial brief so it will be disclosed with particularity sa darating pong linggo,” Ridon noted.
Ridon also clarified that both sides may still seek to present additional evidence after pretrial if the Senate impeachment court allows it and if the evidence is material to the case.
“For as long as papayagan po ito ng Senate Impeachment Court at relevant and material po doon po sa mga gusto pong patunayan whether na prosecution at ang depensa,” Ridon stressed.
Ridon credited House prosecutor Joel Chua pf Manila for identifying the fresh evidence that could strengthen the prosecution’s case once the trial moves forward.
“Para ituloy po yung Q&A ng mabilis, wala naman hong idadagdag dun sa nabanggit na ni ni Cong Joel, pero mahalaga lang pong i-reiterate yung inannounce lang po kahapon na mayroong pong bagong ebidensya na ilalabas, pagdating na po ng pretrial proceedings, ang nakaisip po nito pong bagong ebidensyang ito para talagang (inaudible) ang buong impeachment prosecution panel ay wala pong iba kundi si Cong. Chua,” Ridon revealed.
“Tinatanong kasi kung sino nakaisip yan? Wala na talagang alam-alam nya,” he added.
Ridon then credited Chua’s investigative instincts in pursuing material relevant to the impeachment complaint.
“Alam nyang maghanap ng kriminal,” Ridon remarked.
