Defense counsel Atty. Justin Nicol Gular questioned Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Assistant National Statistician Marizza B. Grande over the collection and disclosure of personal information contained in civil registry records during Day 22 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, September 7.
During cross-examination, Gular asked Grande whether the PSA obtained the consent of the individuals named in acknowledgment receipts before checking their personal information against the agency’s Civil Registry System database.
“Did you get the consent of those individuals?” Gular asked.
“No, sir,” Grande replied.
Gular then asked whether Grande was aware that information contained in civil registry documents is considered sensitive personal information.
“And are you aware that any information in a civil registry document is sensitive personal information?” Gular asked.
Grande began explaining that the PSA followed procedures adopted in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, but Gular pressed the witness on whether disclosure of sensitive personal information could constitute a violation of the law.
“So you are aware that any disclosure of personal, sensitive information is a violation—” Gular said, before the prosecution objected to the line of questioning.
Prosecution lawyer Atty. Mae Divinagracia objected, describing the questioning as misleading.
Presiding Officer Senate President Chiz Escudero then asked Grande to explain why the PSA’s disclosure of the requested information did not violate data privacy rules or the agency’s mandate to keep civil registry information confidential.
“Sa palagay niyo, Ms. Grande, bakit hindi niyo nilabag ‘yung paglalabas ng impormasyon na hiningi ng Kamara base sa Data Privacy Act o base sa charter niyo mismo na dapat confidential ‘yun?” Escudero asked.
Grande explained that the PSA has procedures allowing it to release information when there is a legitimate purpose and when the disclosure is proportionate to the request made by another government agency.
“Based po sa Data Privacy Act, sir, the same as mentioned by Atty., Section 13F, if there’s a legitimate purpose and pwede po namin i-release ito sa nagre-request na agency or individual,” Grande said.
She added that the PSA evaluates the purpose of each request and determines what information may appropriately be released.
“But most of the time po, sir, ‘yung mga ganitong cases ay chinecheck namin what is the legitimate purpose and then ‘yung mga information that we provide, we determine that is proportionate dun sa ni-request ng House Committee po,” she added.
The exchange followed Grande’s earlier testimony that the PSA verified names appearing in alleged confidential fund payee lists from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Her testimony is part of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges irregularities in the use and liquidation of confidential funds involving the OVP and DepEd.
The defense’s cross-examination is expected to examine the procedures used by the PSA in verifying the names, as well as the legal basis for accessing and transmitting information from the agency’s civil registry records.
