Diokno: SALN subpoenas part of evidence review, not overreach

A MEMBER of the House Committee on Justice said Sunday that the move to subpoena documents, including Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), is a necessary step in determining whether there is sufficient basis to proceed with the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno stressed that the proceedings remain at the evidence-gathering stage, where the committee is tasked to establish probable cause—not to conduct a full trial.

“Simple lang naman ang tungkulin ng Committee on Justice dito. Hindi naman kami ang maglilitis ng kaso. Ang trial nito ay talagang mangyayari sa Senado kung umabot doon,” Diokno said during dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso interview with Isa Avendaño-Umali and Nimfa Ravelo.

He explained that the panel is acting within its constitutional mandate after already determining that the impeachment complaints are sufficient in form and substance.

“Ang trabaho namin ay tingnan ang ebidensya at alamin kung sapat ba ang tinatawag na probable cause para matuloy ang kaso,” he said.

Among other claims, the complaints say that Duterte has gathered wealth that she cannot explain and did not fully or accurately report her assets in her SALNs—things that the committee is now trying to confirm using official records.

Aside from SALNs, the committee has also issued subpoenas for other financial documents, including income tax returns from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, corporate filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and related records.

The committee seeks these documents to cross-check declared assets, trace financial transactions, and determine whether the allegations have documentary evidence to support them.

Diokno pointed out that subpoenas, including those covering SALNs and other records, are anchored on specific allegations raised in the complaints and are meant to verify the authenticity of documents and claims.

“Lahat ng mga naisyu na subpoena ng Committee on Justice ay nakabatay dun sa mga alegasyon ng mga complaint na nasuri na namin at nasabi na sufficient in form and substance,” Diokno said.

“Kaya nga naming pinalabas ang subpoena para malaman kung ito ba ay totoo, kung mga genuine ba ‘yung mga dokumento,” he added.

He said the same process applies to witnesses, whose testimonies must be tested under oath.

“‘Pag humarap sila, may alam ba talaga sila tungkol sa sinasabi nila sa kanilang salaysay. This is the time for evaluation,” he said.

The lawmaker rejected claims that the committee’s actions amount to a “fishing expedition,” saying the process mirrors standard prosecutorial procedures.

“Hindi ako sang-ayon sa mga nagsasabi na fishing expedition ito. Lahat po ng ginagawa ng Committee on Justice ay sang-ayon sa Konstitusyon at sa rules ng House of Representatives on impeachment,” he said.

Diokno likened the proceedings to a preliminary investigation, where subpoenas are routinely issued to obtain documents and clarify testimonies.

“Sa mga naging bahagi na ng preliminary investigation, alam nila na nagsu-subpoena ang mga piskal natin, lalo na kung ibang ahensya ang may hawak ng dokumento,” Diokno said.

“Tapos tinitingnan nila, at minsan nagkakaroon din ng hearing para sa clarificatory questions. Ganun din ang gagawin namin,” he added.

The committee, he said, will ultimately determine whether the evidence—including financial disclosures such as SALNs—meets the threshold of probable cause for impeachment, before elevating the case to the Senate for trial.

“Kung meron, ibabato sa Senado. Kung wala, ipa-dismiss ang kaso,” Diokno stressed.