THE first week of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s defense was more of a “watusi” than a “kuwitis,” House impeachment lead prosecutor Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said Friday, criticizing the lack of substantial evidence to counter allegations of P818 million in unexplained wealth.
“We were anticipating explosive testimonies and/or evidence. But apparently, hindi nga ito kuwitis eh. Watusi pa yata ito,” the Batangas representative said at a press briefing.
Luistro said prosecutors had expected Duterte’s lawyers to present stronger evidence after repeatedly promising to answer the allegations before the Senate impeachment court.
Instead, she said, the defense opened its presentation by losing a key witness and focusing on relatively small financial transactions.
“As I was saying kanina, hindi explosive ang pag-uumpisa ng presentation ng defense’s evidence sapagkat ito’y inumpisahan sa withdrawal ng isang napakahalagang testigo,” she said.
Constitutional law expert Ralph Sarmiento declined to testify, citing his desire to preserve his independence as a legal scholar.
The defense also withdrew or dispensed with 18 of its 24 scheduled witnesses during the four hearing days from Nov. 9 to 12, including 16 bank officials.
Only six witnesses testified, addressing two disputed properties, a salary adjustment, corporate interests, a restaurant bill in Japan and Nike shoes purchased in Malaysia.
Luistro said those testimonies fell far short of the financial evidence presented by the prosecution.
“We were anticipating the defense to explain this huge amount of undeclared and/or unexplained property of the respondent vice president,” she said.
Prosecution witness and forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera earlier identified at least P817.87 million in allegedly undeclared assets and unexplained wealth from 2022 to 2025.
“We anticipated more because what the prosecution was able to prove is 817 million [pesos] undeclared, unexplained property of the respondent vice president,” Luistro said.
“Napakalayo ng amount, no? Napakalayo ng amount,” she added.
Luistro said the defense must address three specific allegations under Article II, the sole remaining impeachment charge against Duterte.
These involve alleged failures to properly declare assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), explain wealth unsupported by lawful income, and divest business and financial interests while holding public office.
“As far as the prosecution is concerned, we have strongly and clearly established these three specific allegations,” Luistro said.
She said prosecutors expected more substantial evidence when the defense resumes presenting witnesses on Nov. 19.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing, while her lawyers have challenged the prosecution’s financial findings.
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