Defense ready to defend VP Sara Duterte after impeachment court subpoenas her financial records

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte said it is ready to defend her before the Senate impeachment court after subpoenas were issued for her bank and tax records for the trial.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, defense counsel Atty. Michael Poa said the camp has long anticipated that the impeachment court could grant the prosecution's request to obtain Duterte's financial documents. He stressed that the defense has no intention of preventing the release of the records but has consistently argued that any effort to obtain them must comply with existing laws and constitutional safeguards.

“Handang-handa naman tayo… Ang punto lang naman talaga natin do'n, wala naman tayong hangarin na ma-suppress o pigilan ang paglalabas. It’s just that we felt strongly na may mga batas na nagbabawal dito and that’s why we said, while we’re searching for the truth, it must be done within the limits of the Constitution, the law, and the rules,” Poa said.

Poa said the defense is prepared to challenge the prosecution's claims, particularly the allegation that Duterte possesses unexplained wealth. According to him, the camp is ready to demonstrate that the accusations "have no basis."

The subpoenas were issued while the impeachment trial is temporarily suspended to make way for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address and related Senate activities.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus said subpoenas have already been served on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and several banks. The agencies and financial institutions were directed to submit the requested documents by July 30.

Vice President Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations that include culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

The House of Representatives impeached her for a second time in May.