Palace: ‘Scam,’ ‘mastermind’ labels need proof, final decision

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said the words “scam” and “mastermind” should not be used in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte without concrete evidence and a final decision.

On Tuesday, impeachment court presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis Escudero ordered the two words used by the prosecution lawyer during her direct examination of Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio stricken from the record.

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During today’s briefing, Castro agreed that it would be improper to describe an accused person as a “mastermind.”

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“Ang salitang mastermind, definitely it’s a general term, maaari mong magamit. Pero kung ipapatungkol mo ito sa partikular na tao, hindi siya magandang gamitin, hindi siya magandang gamitin para maipahatid mo iyong mensahe mo doon sa taong inaakusahan mo,” she said.

(The word “mastermind” is definitely a general term that you can use. But if you are referring to a particular person, it is not appropriate to use it, especially to convey your message toward the person you are accusing.)

Speaking as a lawyer, Castro said the term can still be used in other contexts, as long as it does not specifically refer to or target a particular person.

“Kasi ako gagamitin ko rin naman iyong salitang sindikato, mastermind, pero not particularly sa isang tao,” she said.

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(Because I would also use words like ‘syndicate’ and ‘mastermind,’ but not specifically in reference to one person.)

Moreover, Castro said it is difficult to tag something as “scam” without proof.

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“Siguro kapag napatunayan po talaga na nanloko, naglustay at naloko ang kapwa nating Pilipino, so after that siguro, kapag tapos na iyong decision kasi mayroon ka nang pinanghahawakang ebidensiya,” she said.

(Perhaps once it has really been proven that they deceived people, misused funds, and took advantage of our fellow Filipinos. After that, once the decision has been finalized, you already have evidence to back up the accusation.)

During the impeachment trial, private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia asked Ortonio about the several different reasons given for the same confidential funds.

“So in short, you will also agree with me, na kapag paiba-iba ang rason, maaaring nagsisinungaling lang or talaga namang ito ay isa lamang scam,” she said.

(So in short, you would also agree with me that when the reason keeps changing, the person may simply be lying, or it may really just be a scam.)

Divinagracia further asked Ortonio if he agreed that Duterte was the architect and mastermind of the “confidential funds matter.”

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Defense counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer moved to strike the words “scam,” “nagsisinungaling (lying),” “architect,” and “mastermind.” /jpv