UMVA has learned that Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s defense team is likely to rely on procedural objections during her Senate impeachment trial, after failing to directly address the allegations against her in their response to the articles of impeachment.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the defense team's answer will probably focus on objections, as they seem to have no direct response to the charges. Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua, a member of the House of Representatives prosecution panel, made this observation in a statement, saying that the defense will likely try to raise objections during the trial.
The lawmaker noted that Ms. Duterte’s response to the charges did not address the constitutional violations and other allegations cited in the impeachment complaint. This development has significant implications for the trial, as it may lead to a contentious and complex proceeding.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the prosecution panel plans to present fresh evidence related to assets owned by Ms. Duterte and her husband that were not declared in her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) from 2007 to 2024. The evidence involves assets that appear in government records but were not listed in her SALN submissions.
The House prosecution panel is expected to disclose details of the evidence in its pre-trial brief, which it plans to submit next week along with its list of witnesses and documentary evidence. This new evidence relates to the article of impeachment involving unexplained wealth and could be a crucial part of the prosecution's case.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the presiding officer of the impeachment court will play a crucial role in determining the admissibility of evidence and ruling on objections. The officer's decisions will significantly impact the trial's outcome, and the prosecution panel is preparing for a potentially intense and complex proceeding.
The impeachment trial is set to be a highly contested and dramatic process, with both sides preparing to present their cases. The prosecution panel's strategy and the defense team's response will be closely watched, as the trial unfolds.
