The defense panel of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 20, acknowledged the Senate impeachment court’s decision granting the subpoena for financial records, saying they respect the ruling while maintaining that they had strong legal grounds for their opposition.
Speaking during a press conference after the seventh day of the impeachment trial, defense counsel Atty. Michael Poa said the panel had already presented its arguments and cited relevant laws to support its objection to the release of the records.
“We, the defense, argued its position. Nilatag naman namin kung bakit kami nag-object. Nilagay naman namin doon sa aming opposition kung ano yung mga relevant laws that really fortified our position on why the request should not be given due course,” Poa said.
Poa stressed that the final decision rested with the impeachment court and that the defense would continue to respect the outcome.
“We submit to the decision of the impeachment court, but of course without prejudice to legal remedies available under the law,” he added.
Asked whether the ruling was a major setback for the defense, Poa said the team recognized the development but had already anticipated the possibility that their objection could be denied.
“Sa amin, siyempre, hindi namin maipagkakaila na talagang we had strong grounds to oppose. At least, yun yung pananaw namin,” Poa said.
He added that while the defense would have preferred for their opposition to be granted, adverse rulings are part of court proceedings.
“Siyempre, hindi naman tayo magbobolahan. Siyempre, mas gusto namin kung talagang napagbigyan din yung opposition namin. But, you know, that's normal naman in any court proceeding,” Poa said.
Despite the setback, Poa assured that the defense team remains prepared for the next stages of the impeachment proceedings.
“Whatever happens, the possibility of this happening is something we also anticipated. So, hindi naman natin masasabi na malaking-malaking setback ito,” he said.
The Senate impeachment court earlier granted the prosecution’s request to subpoena Vice President Duterte’s bank, tax, and AMLC records, ruling that the documents are relevant and material to the allegations of unexplained wealth under Article II of the impeachment complaint.
