Debates on VP Sara’s bank, tax records set

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has set for oral arguments next week the prosecution’s request for subpoenas on the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio.

Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero directed both parties to submit memoranda on the prosecution’s request for a subpoena covering the tax records of the Duterte couple and 22 businesses.

Each side will be given 10 minutes to present their arguments.

Escudero also set oral arguments for Monday on the prosecution’s renewed request for a subpoena directing the Anti-Money Laundering Council, through its chairman, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., to produce the requested bank records.

The Senate impeachment court also ordered former Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez to appear as witness next week after the House prosecution said her testimony would be crucial to buttressing the fourth Article of Impeachment against the Vice President.

The court directed Lopez to testify on July 13 or 14.

House prosecutor and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor informed the impeachment court that the prosecution decided to call Lopez after the defense argued that her detention by a House committee in 2024 prompted Duterte to issue the alleged threats against the President, the First Lady and the former House speaker.

The prosecution also announced that Jeremy Lotoc, who was chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division at the time, would be its next witness on July 13.

Another witness called in is House Legislative Security Bureau executive director Belinda Bello.

The prosecution panel argued that Lopez’s testimony can be used to establish context and corroborate other evidence in relation to the threats.

Administrative matters, meanwhile, were taken up before the presentation of evidence on the third day of Duterte’s impeachment trial yesterday.

The court adopted housekeeping measures for the proceedings, including a scheduled 15-minute break midway through each hearing.

The senator-judges were also told to keep their voices down during the proceedings because the session hall is an “echo chamber” that can make it possible for people in the gallery to hear their conversations.

At yesterday’s proceedings, Duterte’s defense team tried to destroy the credibility of NBI senior agent Mark Calilung, the prosecution’s first witness.

Defense lawyer Carlo Narvasa said that during cross-examination of Calilung, it was disclosed that the latter executed two affidavits.

“Apart from this affidavit of investigation, dated Feb. 10, are you aware if there is another affidavit of investigation executed by the NBI represented by the Cybercrime Division in relation to this case?” Narvasa asked.

He presented a certification for the Department of Justice (DOJ) executed by senior assistant state prosecutor Jayvee Laurence Lawrence Bandong dated Feb. 5, 2025.

“This certification dated Feb. 5, 2025 states, and I quote, ‘the referral, the complaint referral does not contain all the necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of the crime. Therefore, it is recommended that the same be first referred for case buildup,” Narvasa said.

With Duterte’s alleged grave threats on President Marcos the focus of her impeachment trial on Tuesday, prosecutors presented part of her November 2024 online press briefing showing her making the alleged threat.

It was Calilung who authenticated the video as part of the NBI’s investigation on the complaints against the Vice President for grave threats and inciting to sedition.

Narvasa added that former NBI director Jaime Santiago wrote to the Office of the Prosecutor General, submitting a revised affidavit of investigation on Feb. 11, 2025.

During cross examination, Narvasa moved to play the video containing the portion of statement of Lopez, when she was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives.

Narvasa asked whether Calilung also investigated the events that took place prior to the incident.

“Did you consider this in making your evaluation in the revised affidavit dated Feb. 10, 2025?” Narvasa asked.

He also asked Calilung if the NBI investigated the threats to Lopez’s life.

“We need a complaint for this one… we did not,” Calilung replied.

Meanwhile, Calilung clarified that the NBI can file criminal charges over threats against the country’s highest officials even without a complaint from the intended victim.

Responding to questions from Sen. Erwin Tulfo, Calilung said Republic Act 10867 empowers the NBI to investigate crimes involving threats, particularly when national security is involved.