BICOL Saro Rep. Terry Ridon on Saturday dared Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to attend her Senate impeachment trial to see for herself the evidence the prosecution has been presenting to prove its constitutional violation charges against her.
Ridon, who is a member of the prosecution panel, told Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City that the Vice President could start showing up on Monday when the prosecution begins laying out its evidence on Article 2 of the Impeachment complaint on her alleged unexplained wealth.
“This is a challenge to the Vice President: Magpakita po kayo sa Lunes, magsisimula na ho ang paglalahad ng hindi maipaliwanang na yaman ng inyo pong pamilya,” he said.
He said it is important that the respondent shows up and that if she attended the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) proceeding on the grave threats case she is facing there, she has no reason to skip next week’s impeachment trial.
“Very important po na magpakita po kayo doon. Kung nagpakita po kayo sa grave threats proceeding sa Quezon City RTC…wala hong dahilan para hindi magpakita sa darating na Lunes,” he said.
“At sa darating pong Lunes ay sisimulan na po namin ang paglalahad ng ebidensiya dito po sa usapin ng hindi maipaliwanang na yaman ng atin pong Pangalawang Pangulo at ng kanya pong asawa,” he added.
Ridon and Akbayan Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno are the prosecutors in charge of evidence presentation on Impeachment Article 2
The Bicol Saro lawmaker said the prosecution is now in possession of about 1,800 pieces of bank and financial documents on the bank accounts and other transactions of the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
He said the prosecution and the defense have not completed the marking of these documents on Thursday and Friday.
“Actually, di pa nga tapos yung marking namin sa dami ng financial and bank documents na isinumite ng mga banko at iba pang financial institutions,” he said.
Asked if he felt Article 2 on unexplained wealth is the most damaging allegation against the Vice President, Ridon said it is one of the important impeachment articles.
“Isa po ito sa mga mahalagang articles na hinaharap po ng prosecution sa impeachment court. Nakahanda po kaming kumpletuhin yung mga ebidensiya patungkol po dito,” he said.
He said the prosecution’s witness list includes representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO).
He added that the first three agencies would be asked about the tax records of the Duterte-Carpio couple and companies registered under the names, while the PNP-FEO would testify on the firearms owned by them, if any
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