Senator-judge Pia Cayetano raised concerns on Thursday, November 12, regarding the prosecution’s line of questioning directed at a defense witness during an impeachment or tribunal proceeding.
The exchange followed inquiries from private prosecutor Atty. Rey Robles concerning a ₱256,882.50 credit card charge made by Atty. Manases Carpio—husband of Vice President Sara Duterte—for shoes bought in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The defense witness, Chadrin Parian, testified that the purchase was intended for Elite Philippines, a basketball team that includes Carpio’s child.
Cayetano criticized the prosecution’s approach, arguing that the questioning unfairly cast suspicion on parents investing their own resources into youth sports and privacy.
”Prosecution, I’m warning you: I will not hide my disdain. I cannot. I don’t even know where to begin,” Cayetano said.
”The way you are presenting it, you are telling law-abiding citizens like me, mothers na nagmamalasakit like me, ‘Wag ka nang mag-abala. Hayaan mo na lang ‘yung mga athlete na ‘yan.’ That’s the message that you are sending,” she added.
Expressing frustration, the senator-judge also questioned the relevance of inquiring about the schools attended by the students, highlighting safety concerns surrounding social media harassment.
”Why would you ask where the students study? I wouldn’t want you to know if I had a small child where my child studies. You know how vicious people are on social media,” Cayetano noted.
”I apologize for being a bit emotional about this, but sports will save us. If people like us who have the means to help will be embarrassed to help dahil pupunahin niyo lang kami, paano na tayo?” she continued, asking whether the prosecution intended to discourage parents from fulfilling parental duties just because a family member holds public office.
In response, Robles clarified that the prosecution did not object to parental support for athletics, but rather sought to examine the conduct and accountability mandated for public officials under the law.
”That is not our point, your honor. The point is our laws specifically states the appropriate manner a public official is supposed to conduct for himself or herself,” Robles said.
”We have no quarrel about a parent supporting a child’s inclination for sports and help sports development,” he added, emphasizing that the inquiry focused on whether the expenditure was appropriate given public ethics standards.