Defense counsel Michael Poa said Wednesday that Vice President Sara Duterte has "no recollection" of, nor participation in, transactions involving a joint Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) account she held with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The letter stated that Duterte had “no knowledge, participation, or recollection” of maintaining or having any beneficial interest in the accounts.
During the day 35 of the impeachment trial, Senator-Judge Risa Hontiveros asked the defense to explain its position on the Vice President’s alleged lack of knowledge of the account and its transactions.
“Our client does not have any recollection kasi of this account,” Poa said.
Poa also said the defense sought to preserve the former president’s rights to challenge documents or raise his own legal defenses concerning the accounts.
“Lumabas lang po ito cause I don’t want to waive, of course, the rights of the former President also to challenge whatever documents he may challenge,” he said.
Poa said the Vice President only became aware of the BPI accounts after they were raised during a House quad-committee hearing.
He added the Vice President had asked him to verify the existence of the accounts because she did not remember having such an account or making transactions involving it.
“Ang punto lang po namin nung lumabas po ito, I think a Quad Comm, lumabas ‘yung mga accounts. Tinitingnan namin itong mga accounts na ’to and I was asked by the Vice President to verify kasi hindi niya natatandaan na may ganitong account at wala daw siyang transaksyon,” Poa said.
Poa said his February 2026 letter to BPI was intended to confirm whether accounts under the names of Vice President Duterte and her father existed and, if so, to obtain the relevant bank documents.
“Ang punto lang namin sa letter na ito is to ask whether the accounts exist and, if they do exist, to at least give us the documents,” Poa said.
Earlier in the proceedings, BPI witness Marwin Galvez confirmed that the Vice President and the former president had two time deposits under their joint account, including one worth around ₱41 million in 2010 and another involving ₱55 million that was converted into a manager’s check.
“Sabi niyo, si VP Duterte ay walang recollection nitong mga transaksyon, at bagama't ayaw niyong i-waive 'yung karapatan ng dating presidente, ang tinuturo ni VP Sara Duterte sa mga transaksyong ito?” Hontiveros asked.
“Ang sinasabi po niya ay wala siyang naging partisipasyon dito,” Poa replied.
