Private prosecutor Atty. James Bryan Ibrahim Alih pushed back against defense lawyer Atty. Justin Nicol Gular’s objection to his use of the Filipino word “yaman” while questioning a witness about Vice President Sara Duterte’s net worth during the 25th day of her impeachment trial on Tuesday, September 15.

Alih asked the witness, Atty. Karen Batu of the Office of the Ombudsman, about Duterte’s net worth in 2008, using “yaman” as the Filipino equivalent of net worth.

Gular objected, saying the prosecution should stick to the terminology used in the documents being identified by the witness.

Alih took exception to the objection, saying he had given leeway to the defense and complied with its requests during the proceedings.

“I don’t think the good counsel can muzzle or gag the prosecution. Short of any improper or any offensive matter that I may have said, there’s nothing so far,” Alih said, asking the defense to allow him to proceed with his questions.

Gular maintained that the witness was called to identify documents and argued that the prosecution should use the terms appearing in those documents.

Presiding officer and Senate President Chiz Escudero then intervened, noting that he also could not directly translate “net worth.” He suggested the closest Filipino term could be “kabuuang pagmamay-ari,” while noting that it presumes liabilities have already been deducted.

Escudero ultimately directed the prosecution to use the term “net worth” in the absence of an agreed Filipino translation, allowing Alih to continue with his questioning.