Sara Duterte camp: Strategies in place to explain SALN figures

Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team said Tuesday it has strategies in place should the time come when they need to explain the movement of figures in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

"We have a strategy on that matter, actually. Obviously, without disclosing the specifics, I will also not deny na siyempre napag-isipan na ng depensa kung paano natin gagawin 'yan," defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said.

(We actually have a strategy on that matter. Obviously, without disclosing the specifics, I will also not deny that the defense has naturally thought about how we will handle that.)

"Asahan ninyo na lang po at abangan ninyo na lang po pag kami naman ang nagprisinta ng ebidensya, kung sakaling may mga kailangan ipaliwanag du'n sa mga nakalagay," he added.

(You can expect and watch out for that when it is our turn to present evidence, should there be things that need to be explained there.)

When asked if the strategy included calling for Duterte, he replied: "Not necessarily."

On the 25th day of the trial, Article 2 of the impeachment case was discussed, where part of the supporting documents presented was the vice president's SALN.

Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment alleges that Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth by failing to fully and truthfully disclose all of her and her spouse's assets, liabilities, and net worth in her SALNs for 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Additionally, it claims she failed to divest from—and instead willfully maintained—all of her business interests throughout her tenure as vice president from 2022 through 2025.

Atty. Karen Batu

On Tuesday, the House prosecution panel presented a new witness, Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Records Division of the Office of the Ombudsman.

She testified on matters contained within the SALNs of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.

Recalling her testimony, the defense team stated that Batu was presented solely for the purpose of identifying the SALNs, which are in the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman as the official repository.

Poa said no personal knowledge was expected from Batu, given the limitations of her role as records custodian.

"Kumbaga, custodian lang po talaga siya ng lahat ng SALN na pinapasa sa kanila and therefore hindi siya makakapag-testify on kung mayroong ill-gotten [wealth] or may non-declaration or non-disclosure sa SALN," Poa said.

(In other words, she is really just a custodian of all the SALNs submitted to them, and therefore she cannot testify on whether there is ill-gotten wealth, non-declaration, or non-disclosure.)

"Kasi base lang po talaga sa dokumento, kumbaga parang binabasa lang niya yung dokumento kanina kung napansin ninyo," he added.

(Because it's really just based on the document—in other words, if you noticed earlier, she was simply reading from the document.)

For the defense panel, Batu is not qualified to interpret any guidelines concerning the matter, reminding the public that she was only called to identify and present the SALNs.

"So I think hindi pa ito yung tamang witness para mag-interpret ng ganitong bagay. Just to be fair to both parties and, of course, to the witness—kasi para maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan, 'yung witness talaga hindi siya pinatawag para mag-interpret ng kung anumang nasa loob ng guidelines ng CSC or ng [6713]," Poa explained.

(So I think this is not yet the right witness to interpret these matters. Just to be fair to both parties and, of course, to the witness—so that the public understands—the witness was really not called to interpret whatever is inside the guidelines of the CSC or RA 6713.)

Poa was referring to Civil Service Commission (CSC) guidelines, which govern government appointments, merit systems, and employee discipline.

Meanwhile, Republic Act 6713 refers to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Poa noted Batu's caution, pointing out that she even offered a disclaimer stating she could not draw conclusions on certain matters.

"Kasi ngayon talaga yung kay Atty. Batu, if you noticed, she's testifying based on her personal experience, 'di ba, o 'yung napapansin niya sa trabaho niya. But lahat po kasi 'yon ay hindi conclusive, and Atty. Batu was very careful by saying na she cannot conclude on these matters," Poa said.

(Because right now with Atty. Batu, if you noticed, she's testifying based on her personal experience or what she observes in her job. But all of that is not conclusive, and Atty. Batu was very careful by saying that she cannot conclude on these matters.)

"So kung talagang kailangan ipaliwanag 'yung bawat pagtaas, that will either come to the later witnesses or sa mismong ebidensya na mismo ng depensa," he added.

(So if each increase really needs to be explained, that will either come through later witnesses or directly from the defense's own evidence.)

Spokesman Paolo Panelo

Poa clarified that he has not served as Duterte's spokesperson since October 2024.

Instead, he stated that he transitioned to serving as one of her lawyers, and now acts as the spokesperson for her defense team in the impeachment trial.

"Ako naman kasi, since October 2024, hindi na po ako tumayong spokesperson ni Vice President Sara Duterte or ng OVP," Poa said, referring to the Office of the Vice President.

(As for me, since October 2024, I have no longer served as the spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte, or the OVP.)

"Ako po ay naging abogado na lamang niya at ako po ay tumatayong tagapagsalita ng defense team—not of the Vice President, not of the OVP—but just the defense team as one of the lawyers in the defense team," he added.

(I became her lawyer strictly, and I am acting as the spokesperson for the defense team—not for the Vice President, not for the OVP—but specifically for the defense team as one of its lawyers.)

Last Wednesday, Atty. Paolo Panelo was appointed as the new spokesperson for Duterte, replacing Ruth Castelo.

Poa said he and Panelo have distinct duties, even though both serve spokesperson functions.

However, he noted that Panelo could still answer questions regarding the impeachment, though he won't be involved in matters of strategy or evidence, as those will remain within the purview of the defense team.

Poa said he has worked with Panelo before, so they maintain open communication.

"Parang lang masigurado na hindi kami nagco-conflict with one another in fairness to Atty. Panelo, he also reaches out to me naman to us to ask questions," Poa added.

(Just to make sure we don't conflict with one another, in fairness to Atty. Panelo, he also reaches out to me and to us to ask questions.) — VDV, GMA News