The House prosecution panel said it will present official agency records, documentary evidence, and corroborating witnesses when the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte proceeds before the Senate impeachment court.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the House prosecution panel, said the case against Duterte is anchored on official documents from government agencies and not on informal or unverified claims.
“What I can tell you is that the House Prosecution team has solid evidence and attachments, documents, that would prove that these are not taken just anywhere else, but these are official copies from agencies. And we also would present witnesses that can corroborate this material attachment of evidence,” Alonto Adiong said.
His statement came as the impeachment case moves toward the pre-trial stage, where the Senate impeachment court is expected to set the rules for the presentation of evidence, identify witnesses, and define the flow of proceedings.
“The next process would be the pre-trial conference. And I believe that the Senate has already indicated the dates for the pre-trial conference and for the actual impeachment trial, which would be on July 6, if I’m not mistaken,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the pre-trial conference would allow the prosecution to formally submit its documentary evidence and list of potential witnesses.
“So, come next week, we are hoping, and we’re expecting, that the court will convene for the pre-trial conference so that the House Prosecution team would be able also to submit the evidence and also to submit the list of the names of our potential witnesses,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Basically, the pre-trial conference is the laying down of the ground rules for the people to know what the flow of the trial would be,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said all four articles of impeachment against Duterte are backed by evidence, but he pointed to two issues that he said are easier for the public to understand: the alleged assassination threat and the unexplained wealth allegation.
“All the four articles have solid basis and have solid evidence. But what I can tell you for the public to easily understand is the threats,” he said.
On the alleged threat, Alonto Adiong said the issue goes beyond the use of harsh words because it involves the country’s second-highest official and remarks directed at the President, the First Lady, and a former speaker of the House.
“You cannot just go around and threaten somebody. That’s a no-no,” he said.
He said the allegation carries constitutional and institutional weight because public officials are expected to uphold the justice system and public order.
“By saying that I will have you killed is also an indication that you do not trust the legal system and our justice system. And for a public officer and a public official with that position that she has already obtained, she’s the next in rank to the president,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said Duterte must explain the alleged remarks before the public, especially because they were made openly.
“Threatening assassination to a sitting president, a first lady and a speaker would even give more, you know, in terms of gravity of the penalty, would even give her more reason to explain to the public. That’s very clear. Sinabi niya iyon for the public to see,” he added.
On the unexplained wealth allegation, Alonto Adiong cited supposed discrepancies among Anti-Money Laundering Act records, bank records, and Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
“Second is the unexplained wealth. From the AMLA records, there are quite a number of deposits to her account, which apparently were not reflected in her SALN,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said the public deserves a full explanation on how the records compare with Duterte’s official asset declarations.
“So meaning to say from 2019 up to present, wala siyang cash on hand, which does not coincide with the AMLA reports, with the bank records that, you know, the banks that have already supplied to the AMLA. And so these are things that for the public to easily understand,” he said.
He said the questions become more serious when Duterte’s SALN filings as Davao City mayor are compared with her later disclosures as Vice President.
“Because how come during your tenure as mayor of Davao City, you were able to submit completely your SALN. And then later on when you became vice president, suddenly it did not reflect in your SALN, the cash on hand,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the alleged inconsistencies should be tested in a public trial, where records and testimony can be examined.
“So there’s inconsistencies. Not only inconsistency, but the public deserves to know the full detail of this,” Alonto Adiong said.