MANILA, Philippines — Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan questioned the authority of defense witness Suzette Balucanag-Punay to represent GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, November 11.
During Day 42 of the proceedings, Kapunan sought clarification on whether Balucanag-Punay, who was presented as in-house counsel for both companies, had secured board resolutions authorizing her to appear and testify on their behalf.
“May it be clarified because she is presented as in-house of both Metro company and GenCorp,” Kapunan said.
Kapunan stressed that the witness’s authority was important in determining whether she could properly represent the corporations before the Senate impeachment court.
“To us, this is very important. Because otherwise, if she is not duly authorized by a board resolution from both companies, we will question her capacity to even appear before this honorable tribunal and more so to testify in behalf of both companies,” she added.
Defense lawyer Justin Gular, however, maintained that Balucanag-Punay appeared before the impeachment court in compliance with a subpoena issued by the Senate impeachment court.
Balucanag-Punay was presented as a defense witness to address matters involving GenCorp and Metro City Chow Foods, two companies mentioned in the prosecution’s allegations concerning Duterte’s unexplained wealth.
The exchange highlighted the prosecution’s challenge to the witness’s authority to speak on behalf of the corporations, while the defense maintained that her appearance was pursuant to the court’s subpoena.
