(Photo courtesy of Senate)
The Senate impeachment court has rejected the defense panel’s objection to the financial documents presented against Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing bank records, Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), tax documents and other financial records to be formally admitted as evidence in her impeachment trial.
The ruling came after Duterte’s defense argued that the prosecution’s collection and presentation of financial documents amounted to an impermissible “fishing expedition.”
The impeachment court rejected the objection, allowing the prosecution’s documentary evidence to form part of the official trial record.
The admitted documents include banking information, asset declarations, tax records and other financial documents that the prosecution presented in connection with the remaining impeachment charge involving alleged unexplained wealth.
The ruling represents a procedural development in the trial, as it allows the senator-judges to consider the admitted documents when evaluating the prosecution’s allegations.
However, the admission of evidence does not automatically establish the truth of the allegations or determine Duterte’s guilt. The senator-judges must still assess the relevance, credibility and evidentiary weight of the documents alongside the defense’s arguments.
The defense has challenged the prosecution’s efforts to obtain and present the financial records, questioning the scope and justification of the evidence-gathering process.
With the objection rejected, the financial documents will remain part of the evidence to be considered in the impeachment proceedings.
The trial centers on allegations concerning Duterte’s financial transactions, declared assets and sources of income.
The Vice President retains the right to challenge the interpretation and significance of the admitted records as the proceedings continue.
The impeachment court’s eventual decision will depend on its evaluation of the evidence and the applicable constitutional requirements for conviction.
