MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Robin Padilla challenged prosecutors during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on its 43rd day to apply the same financial scrutiny to other public officials, even offering to have his own personal expenditures investigated.
The exchange unfolded after defense witness Chadrin Parian testified regarding a purchase made by Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, who serves as co-parent and manager of the Elite Philippines children’s basketball team.
Carpio shouldered ₱256,882 for Nike shoes for the team following a competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2025—an expense initially highlighted by prosecution expert witness Atty. Alexander Cabrera.
During cross-examination, private prosecutor Atty. Reynaldo Robles questioned whether the purchase aligned with legal obligations requiring public officials and their families to maintain simple lifestyles and avoid ostentatious displays of wealth.
“Nakalagay po sa batas natin, ang isang public official at ang myembro ng kanyang pamilya ay dapat, they should live simple lives. They should avoid ostentatious display of wealth in any form,” Robles stated.
Padilla subsequently turned his line of questioning to Robles, asking if he was aware of lawmakers driving luxury vehicles valued between ₱16 million and ₱22 million.
When Robles replied that he was unaware of such legislators, Padilla pressed further regarding those seated nearby:
“Diyan po sa katabi nyo, meron po ba dyang nakakotse ng Mercedes Benz? Wagon, kulay itim?”
Suggesting that prosecutors look closer to home before judging others, Padilla reiterated a local idiom:
“Siguro po dapat una natin tingnan yung mga kasama natin, dahil may kasabihan nga po tayo – tingnan muna natin yung mga kasama natin bago tayo kumahol.”
“Sa bansang ito na nabubuhay ng sobra-sobra at walang kasimple-simple, huwag na po tayong maglokohan dito. Sana alamin na natin talaga kung sino talaga dito ay nabubuhay ng may ₱16 million, may ₱22 million, may maraming bahay, dito po sa bayan natin,” he added.
To reinforce his point, Padilla renewed his push for a Freedom of Information (FOI) measure to help the public track official compliance with constitutional simplicity provisions.
He also welcomed independent checks on his own spending, pointing to nearly ₱900,000 in personal funds directed toward financial assistance for shooting victims.
“Nung kailan lang po gumastos ako ₱900,000. Gusto nyo po, imbistigahan nyo kung saan ko dinala,” he said.
“Ito lang po, yung mga pinagbabaril doon sa Tacloban, ginastusan ko ng ₱300,000. Yung pinagbabaril po dyan sa South Cotabato, sa eskwelahan, ginagastusan ko po ngayon ng ₱340,000. Imbestigahan niyo ako,” he added.
Padilla is separately facing a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation regarding an obstruction of justice complaint linked to the alleged departure of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following a May 13 shooting incident at the Senate involving security personnel and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents.