House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno argued that confidentiality laws should not prevent the Senate impeachment court from uncovering the truth as it considers the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the sixth day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 15, Diokno defended the prosecution’s request for subpoenas covering Duterte’s bank records, tax records, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports, saying the documents are essential in determining the truth behind the unexplained wealth allegations under Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment.
Responding to the defense’s argument that the requested financial and tax records are protected by confidentiality laws, Diokno said the impeachment court’s primary duty is to establish the truth and ensure accountability.
“Madaling sabihin na confidential ang ilang impormasyon at dokumento. Madaling magturo ng batas. Pero ang hinahanap po ng impeachment court ngayon at sa mga susunod na araw, linggo at buwan, ay ang katotohanan at ang layunin ay makamit ang pananagutan,” Diokno said.
He maintained that confidentiality should not take precedence over the constitutional mandate of the impeachment court.
“Confidentiality, Your Honor, should not be the prevailing principle in this proceeding. Hindi po confidential ang katotohanan,” Diokno emphasized.
The prosecution is seeking access to the records as evidence to support its allegations of unexplained wealth, while the defense maintains that the requested documents are protected under existing confidentiality laws and are not relevant to the impeachment proceedings.
