Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno acknowledged that Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team holds the legal prerogative to challenge trial developments before the Supreme Court, though he voiced hope that such actions will not derail the ongoing impeachment trial.
“Unang-una, syempre, that is within the options available to the defense. But at the same time, we hope that there will be no obstacles to the continuation of the trial,” Diokno said.
“Nagsimula na yung paglilitis natin. Tapos na tayo sa pre-trial. Nakapagpresenta na ang prosecution ng dalawang testigo at dapat tuloy-tuloy na itong prosesong ito,” he added.
A potential issue that could end up before the high court stems from the Senate impeachment tribunal’s ruling to grant the prosecution panel’s request for subpoenas targeting Duterte’s tax filings, bank accounts, and other financial records.
Subpoenas were also authorized for financial documents belonging to her spouse, Atty. Mans Carpio, alongside several corporations connected to them.
House prosecutors sought the records to bolster their allegations of unexplained wealth detailed in Article II of the impeachment charges.
“Makikita din natin kung sakaling aakyat yan, kung ano ang gagawin ng ating Supreme Court, especially when it comes to the issue of… yung ibig sabihin ng sole power to try and decide an impeachment case,” Diokno said.
“But I do hope that it will become very clear for the future, na maging klarong-klaro at malinaw sa lahat, yung kapangyarihan ng Senate impeachment court on the one hand, at yung kapangyarihan ng Supreme Court on the other,” he added.
Diokno noted that any Supreme Court review stemming from the trial might offer crucial guidance on defining the constitutional boundaries separating the Senate’s exclusive jurisdiction over impeachment proceedings and the Supreme Court’s authority of judicial review.
He further characterized the approval of the subpoenas as a major milestone for the prosecution in proving its case of unexplained wealth against the Vice President.
Per the order issued by the impeachment court, concerned banking institutions must turn over the requested records on July 30 at 9 a.m. in the presence of both legal teams.
Nevertheless, Diokno clarified that the subpoena for Duterte’s tax documentation does not mean immediate public disclosure, given the confidentiality protections mandated by current tax statutes.
“Pero gusto ko rin bigyang-diin na ito ay isang developing story. Hindi pa ito tapos dahil simula pa lang actually ito ng pagpre-prepare namin for the documents that will be produced on July 30,” the lawmaker added.