House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno said the prosecution’s request for the admission of Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank records does not seek to make her admit to any wrongdoing or liability.
Speaking on the 30th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Diokno said the request is intended to narrow the issues, streamline the proceedings, and prevent the Senate impeachment court from spending time on matters that are not genuinely disputed.
“Inihain po namin ang request for admission upang mas maging maayos at mabilis ang paglilitis po nitong kaso,” Diokno says.
“Itong layunin na tukuyin kung alin ang tunay na pinagtatalunan at hindi na kailangan ubusin ang oras ng hukuman sa mga bagay na maaari namang kilalanin o hindi naman talaga controversial,” he adds.
Diokno also rejects the defense’s possible concern that the request could violate Duterte’s right against self-incrimination.
“Wala pong paglabag sa karapatan ng respondent laban sa self-incrimination, Your Honors, please. Hindi po namin siya pinapaamin sa anumang kasalanan o pananagutan,” he says.
He explains that the prosecution is only seeking confirmation of the existence and authenticity of bank records submitted by financial institutions in compliance with subpoenas issued by the impeachment court.
“Ang hinihingi lang po namin ay ang pagkilala sa mga dokumentong sinubmit mismo ng mga bangko, pursuant to the subpoenas of this court, sa mga bagay na hindi naman tunay na pinagtatalunan,” Diokno says.
The prosecution also says it is willing to withdraw its request for admission if the defense agrees to stipulations covering three basic matters: that the bank records exist, that they are produced by the identified banks pursuant to court-issued subpoenas, and that they are genuine and authentic copies of records maintained by the banks.
Diokno clarifies that the proposed stipulations do not require Duterte to admit liability, acknowledge the truth or accuracy of every entry in the records, or accept the prosecution’s interpretation of any transaction.
