By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte moved into a potentially decisive phase Monday as prosecutors opened their case on alleged unexplained wealth, questionable SALN disclosures and prohibited business interests.
The prosecution presented former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who explained the legal standards for determining whether a public official’s declared assets are consistent with lawful income.
Cabotaje-Tang stressed that an inaccurate or incomplete SALN does not, by itself, prove unexplained wealth. The prosecution must still establish the circumstances surrounding the omission and show that the assets cannot be satisfactorily accounted for through lawful sources.
She also explained the distinction between cash on hand and cash in bank, saying the two should be separately accounted for in a SALN.
The former magistrate further testified on constitutional restrictions barring the President and Vice President from directly or indirectly participating in business or holding prohibited financial interests while in office.
Duterte’s defense challenged Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony, arguing that she was not included in the pretrial order and had no personal knowledge of Duterte’s finances.
Cabotaje-Tang acknowledged that she had not independently examined Duterte’s financial records and was appearing only to explain the applicable legal principles.
She also denied having any political agenda or receiving any promise or benefit in exchange for her testimony.
The prosecution is expected to turn increasingly to bank, tax and corporate records as it builds its Article II case.
The Senate impeachment court has requested Duterte’s records from PNB and UnionBank, while prosecutors have pointed to financial transactions totaling about ₱6.7 billion involving Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, as part of the evidence they intend to examine.
The figure remains an allegation under scrutiny and is not a finding that the money was illegally acquired.
The trial now moves toward the central question of Article II: whether the financial records and other evidence can substantiate the prosecution’s allegations against Duterte.
The impeachment court has yet to rule on the allegations or determine Duterte’s guilt.
ia/xf
