Metro Manila, Philippines — The House prosecution panel is ready to turn over evidence from three withdrawn impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Office of the Ombudsman should these be requested for possible legal action.
Lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro said Tuesday, Oct. 20, that the panel would comply with the ombudsman request for records once it receives a formal subpoena.
“Wag po tayong manghinayang [Let’s not feel that it was all for nothing] because these articles are not gone into waste,” Luistro said, adding that other government agencies could still pursue accountability outside the impeachment trial.
The three withdrawn articles involved the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats against President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
The Senate Impeachment Court accepted the withdrawal of the three articles on Oct. 13. Article II, which concerns alleged unexplained wealth, false Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and failure to divest business interests is the sole charge before senator-judges.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla said on Oct. 16 that his office was gathering and reviewing records concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Duterte.
Remulla confirmed that the review could move faster because witnesses had testified under oath during the impeachment proceedings, but said any case must be supported by evidence that can stand in court.
The grave threats allegation, meanwhile, is pending with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court as filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The prosecution is also interested in the National Bureau of Investigation findings on properties allegedly linked to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.
Luistro said the prosecution could no longer readily incorporate the findings into its impeachment evidence because it had already completed its presentation. She said other agencies, including the DOJ and the ombudsman, could still examine the findings for possible legal action.
“At the very least, perhaps, we can raise these questions during cross of defense,” Luistro said.
The prosecution is also preparing its formal offer of evidence for the remaining unexplained wealth article. It has until Oct. 23 to submit the offer, after which the defense will have 10 days to comment before the impeachment court rules on admissibility.
The trial will resume on Nov. 9, when the defense is expected to begin presenting evidence.
