House trial adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said a possible defense strategy involving a prenuptial agreement between Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, would not automatically absolve them of questions surrounding their alleged unexplained wealth.
Barbers said the defense must establish the authenticity of the document and show that it was executed before the couple’s marriage, rather than prepared to evade accountability.
“Susuriin ng ating prosecution team yung mga ebidensya ang kanilang ihaharap. So, titingnan natin diyan, ito ba ay ginawa kahapon lang o ito ay ginawa bago kayo ikasal?” Barbers said.
He added that the prosecution would also examine the agreement’s conditions and question whether its existence would exempt the vice president from accountability.
“But again, even if, assuming for the sake of argument, na meron talagang prenup agreement, does that mean ba na exculpated ang ating pangalawang pangulo?” he said.
Barbers maintained that neither a prenuptial agreement nor a possible separation between the couple would automatically resolve the questions surrounding their wealth.
The issue is expected to be among the matters addressed when the impeachment proceedings against Duterte resume on November 9, with the defense expected to explain the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth.
