THE House prosecution said its decision to focus solely on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth would make it harder to portray her impeachment trial as politically motivated.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the remaining charge involved financial records and sworn declarations that could be examined and compared, rather than allegations resting primarily on competing political claims.
“Ito naman ang mas madaling maunawaan, masubaybayan ng ating mga kababayan, at mahirap sabihing pamumulitika lamang,” Tolosa said.
He said the decision to narrow the case followed the prosecution’s presentation of financial evidence, including testimony from forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera.
The prosecution earlier presented bank records, tax filings, business documents and other financial records in support of Article II, which accuses Duterte of unexplained wealth.
Cabrera’s analysis identified at least P817.87 million in alleged undeclared assets and unexplained wealth from 2022 to 2025.
The prosecution has argued that the findings raise serious questions about the accuracy and completeness of Duterte’s sworn declarations.
Tolosa said the financial records provided a more straightforward basis for evaluating the allegations because they could be compared with documents Duterte herself had submitted to government agencies.
The Senate impeachment court approved the withdrawal of the three other articles on Oct. 13, leaving unexplained wealth as the sole remaining charge.
Tolosa said the prosecution also considered the public’s growing fatigue over the length of the impeachment proceedings.
“Pinapakinggan natin ang sentimiyento ng mga kababayan natin na dapat as much as possible, iwasang tumagal pa ang hearing. Dito nagkakaroon ng impeachment fatigue,” he said.
The defense is scheduled to begin presenting evidence on November 9.
Duterte’s camp will have an opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s financial analysis and present its own evidence before the Senate decides the remaining charge.
metrosundaily
