VP Sara Duterte's defense team says SEC document is 'mind conditioning'

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Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team on Monday slammed a summary of her supposed business shareholdings prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), claiming the document presented to the impeachment court was misleading.

Defense lawyer Justin Nicol Gular pointed out that the figures in the documents from the SEC were transactions by corporations and not by the vice president.

"Before the flashing of these...A quick perusal of the documents already shows some misrepresentation, your honor. For example, the summary is labeled as 'Summary of Vice President Sara Duterte's Shareholding.' But it then appears in the summary, authorized capital stock, amount subscribed, amount paid up by the corporations, not by the Vice President," he said during Day 27 of the impeachment trial.

"This is again an attempt, and apologies to use the term, to condition the mind of the public over these figures that will be flashed, your honor," he added.

For his part, Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero told the prosecution to take note of the distinctions between Duterte and the corporations.

"Atty. Erwin, you are reminded to kindly so explain that the authorized capital stock does not automatically reflect the shareholdings solely of the vice president and/or her spouse in that company, but it is the authorized capital stock of the entire company," he said.

In response, the prosecution said that the summary from the SEC is clear and not misleading.

"I'm looking at the summaries now. Mayroong specific columns for Vice President Sara Duterte, mayroon pong separate column sa company total. Malinaw naman dito na mahihiwalay natin 'yung mga impormasyon tungkol kay VP Sara or sa kanyang asawa na si Atty. Manases R. Carpio," said prosecution lawyer Erwin Matib.

(I am looking at the summaries now, and there are specific columns for Vice President Sara Duterte, as well as a separate column for the company total. It is clear that we can isolate the information regarding VP Sara or her husband, Atty. Manases R. Carpio.)

"So hindi misleading itong summary. In fact, kung may mga kompanya na hindi nakabanggit 'yung pangalan niya, malinaw naman, nababasa naman dito na 'VP Sara does not appear as an incorporator or director,'" he added.

(So this summary is not misleading. In fact, for companies where her name is not mentioned, it is clearly stated and readable here that 'VP Sara does not appear as an incorporator or director.')

Escudero then ruled in favor of the prosecution: "If it so shows then the court will allow it."

The defense also objected to the identification of corporate documents belonging to JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation, citing an earlier ruling that excluded the two companies from subpoena requests.

The Senate impeachment court is tackling on Monday Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment which specifically alleges that the Vice President accumulated unexplained wealth through the following:

• failure to fully and truthfully disclose all her and her spouse's assets, liabilities, and net worth in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) including in her SALN for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024; and
• failure to divest, and instead, willfully continued, all her business interests during her tenure as vice president for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.