Pia Cayetano frustrated over prosecution's questions on Carpio's P256K shoes purchase

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Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano on Thursday expressed frustration with the prosecution after questioning a defense witness testifying on the P256,000 worth of shoes purchased using the credit card of Mans Carpio, Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband.

On Day 43 of the impeachment trial, Cayetano asked private prosecutor Reynaldo Robles if he is familiar with the plight of Filipino athletes when it comes to financial needs to compete, especially if the tournament is done abroad.

“Prosecution, I’m warning you. I will not hide my disdain. I will not. I cannot,” Cayetano said.

“Is it the prosecution’s intention to make a parent relinquish their parental duty in terms of rearing their child in the manner they feel is the best to promote character, leadership, teamwork just because one of the parents becomes a public official?” she asked.

Robles, in return, explained that it is not the intention of the prosecution to question the way parents support their children’s inclination for sports.

“So kung ang isang public official eh ‘yung sport ng anak niya is basketball or volleyball or football, kailangan ang ibili niyang sapatos sa anak niya eh ‘yung walang brand kasi otherwise ay siya na ay itinuturing na living beyond their means and in an instantaneous manner?” Cayetano pressed.

(So if the sport of a public official’s child is basketball, volleyball, or football, the parent must buy shoes for their child that are not branded because otherwise they would be considered to be living beyond their means and in an instantaneous manner?)

The defense team presented Chadrin Parian, a co-parent of Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, in their children's basketball team, as witness in the trial.

READ: Who is defense witness Chadrin Parian?

In the offer of testimony, defense counsel Justin Gular said that Parian was expected to prove the circumstances surrounding the purchases worth P256,882 in Nike Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using Carpio’s credit card.

Shoes for adults, too?

During the cross-examination, Robles pointed out that if there are 11 members in the basketball team, the shoes purchased would cost around P23,000 per pair.

“Parang hindi ata nagtutugma ‘yun,” the private prosecutor said.

(That doesn’t seem to add up.)

“I’m asking the witness---ang sinasabi niya, ‘yung mga sapatos para sa team members. 11 ‘yung team members. Itong sapatos na nandiyan sa nakikita nating [photo]... 24. So hindi exactly tama na para do’n sa mga bata lang ‘yung sapatos. Tama po ba?” he added.

(I’m asking the witness—he mentioned that the shoes were for the team members. There are 11 team members. But based on this photo, there are 24 pairs of shoes. So, it’s not entirely accurate to say that the shoes were only for the children. Is that correct?)

The witness answered in the affirmative.

Parian said that he personally saw Carpio make the purchase.

Robles then asked the witness if he would consider the purchase of P256,000 worth of shoes an example of a public official’s family member living a simple and modest life.

“I cannot comment on the way Atty. Manases was thinking… I cannot answer for him,” Parian answered.

He also expressed belief that the children and their parents "deserve” the shoes. —AOL, GMA News