VP Duterte challenged to attend trial scrutiny of unexplained wealth

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon challenged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Saturday to attend her impeachment trial on Monday as prosecutors begin presenting evidence on her alleged unexplained wealth.

“This is a challenge to the Vice President: Show up on Monday,” Ridon, lead prosecutor of the alleged unexplained wealth against Duterte, said during the πSaturday News Forum” in Quezon City.

He issued the challenge after Duterte claimed Friday that the impeachment case against her lacked evidence and accused her opponents of using Congress to build a case for her removal.

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Ridon, who co-leads the prosecution of the second impeachment article with Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, said Duterte should have no reason to stay away if she believed there was no evidence against her.

Ridon pointed out that Duterte appeared during her grave threats proceedings at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. So there should be no reason she could not show up at the Senate impeachment court on Monday.

“But I think the point needs to be made that, ultimately, it is the vice president that can actually explain all of these things — explain the grave threats charge, explain confidential funds misuse, explain unexplained wealth,” Ridon said.

The prosecution is set to begin presenting evidence on the second impeachment article on Sept. 14 with retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and officials from the Office of the Ombudsman and Securities and Exchange Commission among its first witnesses.

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Cabotaje-Tang is expected to discuss principles of public accountability, while the Ombudsman and SEC witnesses will cover Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth and corporate records involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.

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Prosecutors have also obtained subpoenaed bank and tax records involving Duterte, Carpio and their companies for the unexplained wealth presentation.

The prosecution has reserved the option of presenting Duterte herself as a witness. /atm