The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte reiterates its opposition to a House prosecution bid to obtain her bank and tax records in her ongoing Senate impeachment trial. Defense lawyers, including Michael Poa, argue that the request effectively amounts to a “fishing expedition,” raises due process concerns, and would violate confidentiality provisions. They maintain that compelling the documents would not be consistent with legal protections afforded to the respondent during impeachment proceedings. Prosecutors, led by House prosecutor Chel Diokno and private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr., counter that the records are relevant to the allegations against Duterte, including claims related to unexplained wealth or alleged misrepresentation of assets. They argue the financial and tax documents are needed to determine whether Duterte unlawfully amassed wealth while in office and to address the prosecution’s evidentiary requirements. In oral arguments, both sides clash over whether and how the impeachment court can issue subpoenas for such records. Meanwhile, reporting indicates the Senate impeachment court grants the prosecution’s request, issuing subpoenas with limits on how the information may be used, following the defense’s objections.
Senate impeachment court orders subpoenas for VP Sara Duterte’s bank, tax records
The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte reiterates its opposition to a House prosecution bid to obtain her bank and tax records in her ongoing Senate impeachment trial. Defense lawyers, includ...
- The House prosecution asks the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank and tax records for use as evidence.
- The defense, through lawyers including Michael Poa, opposes the subpoenas, citing due process concerns, calling the request a “fishing expedition,” and arguing confidentiality issues.
- Prosecutors, including Chel Diokno and Benjamin Tolosa Jr., say the financial and tax records are relevant to allegations involving unexplained wealth/unlawful enrichment and help address findings tied to Duterte’s declared assets.
- During oral arguments, both sides present competing views on whether the impeachment court can issue subpoenas and whether the request is proper.
- The Senate impeachment court grants subpoenas for the bank and tax records, with reported restrictions on their use.
MANILA, Philippines — For the prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Monday’s court ruling granting their request to subpoena her tax and bank documents should already put one of the defense panel’s main arguments to rest. Private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. and House prosecutor Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno said fishing expeditions […]...Keep on reading: Prosecutors: Time to put ‘fishing expedition’ argument to rest
8 hours agoILIGAN CITY – Advocates for good governance welcomed the decision of the Senate impeachment court to subpoena the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte as “a victory for transparency.” In a statement, the non-government group Pinoy Aksyon said the requested documents are significant references to ferreting out the truth on allegations she had amassed unexplained wealth during her tenure as an elected public official which were not reflected on her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). “It was rather a choice of siding with evidence over speculation, transparency over concealment, and full truth over incomplete […]...Keep on reading: Group hails subpoena for Sara Duterte's bank, tax records
19 hours agoMANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Monday said it “anticipated” the Senate impeachment court’s decision to issue subpoenas for their client’s financial and tax records, even saying that they do not count it as a major setback. Defense spokesperson Michael Poa made the pronouncement following the seventh day of the impeachment trial, where the court decided to grant the prosecution panel’s request to issue subpoenas for Duterte’s financial and tax records. “Whatever happens, the possibility of this happening is something we also anticipated,” said Poa in a press conference. READ: LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of VP […]...Keep on reading: Defense team on granting of subpoena: Expected, not a huge setback
1 day agoMANILA — The Philippine Senate ordered banks and the Anti-Money Laundering Council on Monday to produce financial records for Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband and several linked entities, a procedural win for prosecutors seeking to prove she amassed unexplained wealth while in office. The senate, sitting as an impeachment court, restricted how the records may be used, saying they were meant only […] The post Prosecutors win subpoenas for VP Sara’s financial records in impeachment case appeared first on Interaksyon.
1 day agoThe financial records are among the evidence that the House prosecutors intend to use to prove the Vice President's alleged unexplained wealth
1 day agoThe defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte maintained its opposition to the House prosecution panel"s request for the Senate impeachment court to issue a subpoena on the latter"s bank and tax documents in relation to her ongoing impeachment trial.
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