House prosecutors asked the Senate impeachment tribunal on Thursday to summon three initial witnesses to support allegations of unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking at a press conference on September 10, prosecution panel member and Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon announced that the team submitted the formal subpoena requests ahead of the trial proceedings scheduled for September 14.
“Handa na ba kayo sa exciting part?” Ridon asked. “We have submitted already our request to subpoena these three personalities for next week. So we will wait for the order para masubpoena sila.”
The prosecution has requested the appearance of retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Office of the Ombudsman Records Division Officer-in-Charge Karen Batu, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director Gerardo Del Rosario.
Cabotaje-Tang will testify on public accountability standards and the legal options regarding undisclosed assets and illegal business ties. Batu will present Duterte’s submitted Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), while Del Rosario will authenticate corporate filings linked to the case.
“So naghahanda na ang unexplained wealth team para sa pagbubukas ng article na ito,” Ridon added.
Ridon leads the prosecution of Article II—which alleges constitutional violations stemming from Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth—alongside Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno. The two lawmakers plan to alternate in making manifestations and introducing evidence during the proceedings.
The prosecution panel targets completing its presentation of evidence for Article II between early and mid-October.