Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team reiterated on Tuesday, August 4, that no confidential funds belonging to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) were misused, asserting that the prosecution has yet to substantiate its charges.
Speaking after Tuesday’s impeachment trial proceedings, defense panel spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa stood firm against one of the core allegations, emphasizing that the burden of proof rests entirely on the prosecution.
He argued that calling a single witness from the Commission on Audit (COA) is inadequate to establish claims of financial wrongdoing.
”I have always maintained my position that there is no misuse. There is no misappropriation. There were no diversions to the Vice President,” Poa said in a press conference.
”They will not be able to prove all that with just one COA witness,” he added.
Poa noted that both camps will continue presenting their respective evidence, leaving it to the senator-judges to evaluate the record and determine whether the accusations hold weight.