Financial forensic analyst Atty. Alexander “Alex” Cabrera on Monday maintained that his findings involving three corporations linked to Vice President Sara Duterte concerned non-reporting, not fraud, during the 38th day of her impeachment trial.

Cabrera clarified during cross-examination by defense counsel Kristine Ferrer, who questioned his decision to pierce the corporate veil of Metro City Chow, GenCorp Industries Inc. and Cale88 in computing the alleged undeclared income of Duterte and her husband.

Ferrer asked whether Cabrera had set aside the separate juridical personalities of the three corporations based on his supposed finding of fraud.

“Hindi po siya supposed fraud. Non-reporting po siya,” Cabrera replied, saying his findings concerned non-reporting rather than fraud.

Ferrer countered that the conclusion was based on Cabrera’s own assessment and constituted his opinion.

Cabrera rejected that characterization, saying his findings were supported by a witness.

When Ferrer again asked whether the alleged fraud involving the use of separate corporate entities had prompted him to pierce the corporate veil, Cabrera reiterated that his finding concerned non-reporting.

The exchange centered on Cabrera’s methodology in examining the alleged undeclared income attributed to Duterte and her husband, particularly his decision to disregard the separate legal personalities of the three corporations in his financial analysis.

Piercing the corporate veil is a legal principle that allows courts, under certain circumstances, to look beyond a corporation’s separate legal identity and hold individuals or related entities accountable.