Defense counsel Atty. Justin Nicol Gular on Tuesday said it is "premature" to address questions regarding Vice President Sara Duterte's corporate ties after discrepancies emerged between her official disclosures and corporate filings presented during her impeachment trial.

Gular emphasized that the proceedings are currently in the prosecution phase and that the defense will present its arguments and supporting evidence at the appropriate time in the trial.

"Right now, it is still the presentation of the prosecution, and we only react to the testimonies or documentary evidence presented by the prosecution," Gular told reporters.

"At this point, it would be premature for the defense to discuss these matters, and if we want to explain or prove something, it will be strictly through evidence later in the process before the impeachment court."

His remarks came after the 28th day of the impeachment trial, following testimony from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Del Rosario.

Del Rosario testified that while Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) as of Dec. 31, 2024, listed GenCorp Industries Inc. under her business interests and financial connections—identifying her as a stockholder since 2013—the company's incorporation papers and General Information Sheets (GIS) examined by the SEC did not list her name.

The contrasting entries were revisited during the defense panel's cross-examination and the prosecution's redirect examination.

Despite questions regarding Duterte's inclusion in records linked to GenCorp Industries Inc. alongside her absence from its GIS filings, the defense panel maintained it will not preempt its presentation or discuss potential explanations outside the formal impeachment court proceedings.