PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano raised concerns on Monday, September 21, regarding incorrect or misleading labels on evidence introduced during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that such errors could compromise fairness and sway public perception.
Cayetano’s warning on the 27th day of the proceedings followed an objection by defense lawyer Atty. Justin Gular over a summary presented by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director Gerardo del Rosario.
According to the defense, the SEC summary—purporting to detail Duterte’s corporate shareholdings—wrongly listed the authorized capital stock of several firms instead of the Vice President’s actual shares.
“Just taking note of the defense counsel’s manifestation, what is essential in this trial is fairness. So if we’re gonna spend the whole morning, afternoon looking at these documents, tapos mali yung label, it will prejudice the defense and the Vice President,” Cayetano emphasized.
The senator noted that minor mistakes could easily be rectified by the SEC, but cautioned against presenting flawed evidence in court.
“But if throughout this trial or throughout this afternoon, may mali ‘yung label or misleading, what’s worse than a misleading question, it’s a misleading document that will be flashed,” he added.
Gular pointed out that the defense team received the summary only on Monday morning and immediately spotted inaccuracies upon initial inspection.
“And this is precisely why we need to object. Clearly, this is again an attempt, and apologies to use the term, to condition the mind of the public over these figures that will be flashed,” Gular argued.
The defense counsel also opposed the introduction and authentication of corporate filings linked to Pikimong Pikimong Philippines and the JTC Group of Companies, asserting that the prosecution has yet to establish any direct connection between the entities and the Vice President.
Monday’s session focused on Article II of the impeachment articles, which centers on claims of unexplained wealth and alleged discrepancies in Duterte’s financial disclosures.