Pia Cayetano irked as prosec questions Carpio’s spending for athletes

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Pia Cayetano on Thursday said she could not hide her “disdain” on the line of questioning of the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte when it touched on the purchase of shoes of respondent’s spouse Manases Carpio intended for his son and other athletes and their guardians. 

Cayetano made the remark during the testimony of  Chadrin Parian, one of the parents of a player in Elite Philippines, the youth basketball team where Carpio serves as a manager.

Parian was presented by the defense to clarify the matters surrounding the P256,882 purchase of shoes at a Nike store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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READ: VP Duterte defense witness says young players deserve free shoes

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At one point, private prosecutor Reynaldo Robles questioned Parian if Carpio’s purchase “is an example of simple living” as he noted that public officials should “avoid ostentatious displays of wealth in any form.”

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

She then asked the prosecution: “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?”

But Robles said that is not their point.

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“The point is, Your Honor, our laws specifically state the appropriate manner a public official is supposed to conduct himself or herself. We have no quarrel about a parent supporting a child’s inclination for sports,” Robles said in response.

Cayetano also said that she also bought shoes for the teammates of her daughters in the University of the Philippines.

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“So, the way you’re presenting this, you’re telling law-abiding citizens like me—mothers who care, like me—not to bother, and just leave those athletes alone,” Cayetano said. “If people like us who have the means to help end up feeling embarrassed to do so because you tell us not to because you’re just going to criticize us, then what happens to us?” 

The amount in question is among those tagged by prosecution’s expert witness Alexander Cabrera as “unusual purchases.” 

Carpio said the amount used in these transactions was paid for with his personal funds and should not be attributed to public funds.

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Article II, which centers on alleged unexplained wealth, remains the single active impeachment charge following the prosecution’s withdrawal of three other articles on Oct. 13. /mr