Defense objects to inclusion of corporate records of two companies in VP trial

The defense panel on Monday challenged the prosecution’s attempt to introduce corporate documents from the JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

During the 27th day of Senate impeachment court proceedings, defense counsel Justin Nicol Gular argued that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) witness Gerardo del Rosario should not be permitted to identify and authenticate the documents, citing a prior court ruling that excluded both entities from subpoena requests.

"Before we stipulate, Your Honor, we would like first to object to the identification and authentication by the witness of corporate documents belonging to Pikimong Pikimong Philippines and JTC Group of Companies," Gular said.

"These were, in fact, excluded when the prosecution requested subpoenas for bank and AMLC records pertaining to these entities," he added, noting that the presiding officer previously ruled the records irrelevant because the prosecution failed to link the companies directly to Duterte.

Prosecution lawyer Erwin Matib countered that the witness's testimony was intended to establish that missing link.

"Although the bank, AMLA, and BIR records of the two companies were disallowed in connection with our request for subpoena, we intend to establish the connection between the Vice President and these entities through the testimony of this witness. Therefore, the objection is premature," Matib argued.

The defense maintained its opposition, emphasizing that neither firm is named in the Articles of Impeachment—the primary charging document in the trial.

"These companies were neither indicated nor alleged in the Articles of Impeachment," Gular noted. "For consistency's sake, this honorable court and the presiding officer have already ruled on the matter. There is no distinction between bank records belonging to these corporations and corporate records belonging to them."

Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero noted that the prosecution should establish Duterte's connection to the entities through formal subpoena requests rather than relying solely on Del Rosario's testimony.

The proceedings form part of the broader trial investigating allegations that Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth, failed to disclose corporate ownership interests, and violated the constitutional prohibition against engaging in business while in office.

In a related development, the impeachment court issued a subpoena to Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, directing him to appear before the Senate to testify regarding municipal dealings with another entity allegedly linked to his sister.

-Paraluman News