AKBAYAN Party-list Representative Chel Diokno issued a clarification on Saturday in response to a video posted by Senator Pia Cayetano featuring his statements during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Diokno said his remarks were taken out of context, stressing that he wished to set the record straight so the public would not be misled. “With all due respect to the Senator-Judge and so the public won’t be misled, here is the context and the complete statement I made: ‘A fishing expedition can be said to have happened if and only if the party requesting the evidence or documents is just taking a shot in the dark, hoping maybe we’ll find something here,’” he explained.
Diokno emphasized that the prosecution is not merely guessing or looking for evidence without basis. “Let me clarify: We are not just taking a shot in the dark. There is probable cause or sufficient reason found in the records of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the billions that passed through the accounts of the vice president and her husband,” he stated firmly. The congressman noted that their request to subpoena financial records is anchored on existing findings, not on speculation or random inquiry.
The video posted by Senator Cayetano on Friday carried the caption “Just taking a shot? No evidence yet but already accusing!” and showed a portion of the exchange between Diokno and her brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, regarding the request for access to Duterte’s financial records. Diokno’s clarification aims to correct the impression that the prosecution is proceeding without basis, reiterating that their actions are guided by established evidence and legal procedure.
metrosundaily
