Pia Cayetano, Padilla cast doubt on forensic analyst in Duterte trial

(From left) Sen. Pia Cayetano, lawyer and accountant Alexander Cabrera, and Sen. Robin Padilla. Photos by Wendell Alinea and Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit and Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Senator-judges Pia Cayetano and Robin Padilla raised questions about the credibility of the forensic analyst — and his findings — who testified in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Lawyer and accountant Alexander Cabrera testified last week that Duterte had allegedly amassed P817.87 million in undeclared wealth from 2022 to 2025, covering her first four years as vice president. 

During the Monday trial, Cayetano questioned the witness’ methods that led him to his conclusions, which he said were based on his analysis of Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and documents related to her and her husband, Manases Carpio’s taxes, business interests, insurance policies and bank transactions.  

“Would you say that the basic protection of due process is observed when you conclude and no longer mention that certain assumptions were made?” Cayetano asked, citing a supposed lack of disclosure of assumptions in the document. 

“I would think that it’s prudent na in the conclusion, masabi naman na in the same way that you say may require further investigation, i-highlight din na there are certain assumptions that were made here that may alter some parts of this report,” she added. 

Cabrera included in his findings that Carpio’s bank transactions “may warrant further investigations.”

The witness noted that the forensic report was based on his judgment and that the content explains the basis of the conclusions.

“Bakit naman ako magsasabi na, ‘Ito yung conclusion ko pero hindi pa ako sigurado sa conclusion ko ha?’ Yung sinasabi ko po is based on what we’ve seen, sapat na ito para masabi that their assets owned are manifestly disproportionate to their income,” Cabrera said. 

“I know it can be controversial, pero hindi porke’t controversial s’ya ay hindi na po ako pwedeng magkaroon ng professional judgment on that matter,” he added. 

The issue was raised following Cayetano’s clarifications on Cabrera’s conclusion that Duterte may have 20 percent of shares in GenCorp Industries Inc., in which the vice president declared business interest in her SALNs. 

Cabrera explained that the analysis was based on Duterte’s 20 percent investment in the Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, of which Duterte was a member of the board of directors and compensation committee from 2018 to 2021.

He said that based on his team’s sensitivity analysis, the 20 percent assumed share is “conservative.”

Cayetano also questioned Cabrera’s assumption that GenCorp did not include Duterte’s name in its General Information Sheet as it has deals with the local government of Davao City, the Dutertes’ bailiwick and is led by her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. 

At one point, Cayetano asked the witness if his team checked the years the five Jollibee branches under GenCorp began operations.

The witness however said: “Mahirap po. Ang liit po ng oras namin. Medyo kulang po [sa tao]. Namugto na nga ho ang eyebags ko kagagawa nito.” 

The witness meanwhile agreed with Cayetano that his conclusions may change if there were documents that could prove other reasons. 

“Kung mayroon pong dokumento, dalhin lang po. Babaguhin ko po yung report ko,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Senator-judge Padilla pointed out Cabrera’s statement that they had insufficient time to check on other matters concerning Duterte’s supposed unexplained wealth. 

“Pinag-uusapan po natin ang pagi-impeach sa ibinoto ng tao na 30 million votes. Tama po bang sabihin natin na wala kayong time at hindi kayo binigyan ng oras at minadali itong ginawa nyong forensic na analysis?” Padilla asked. 

Cabrera meanwhile explained that in audit firms, in which he previously worked, “all works are rushed.”

“Kahit po kayo ay nagmamadali, puwede niyo pong gawing mabuti ang trabaho. Kahit mabagal, pwede niyo pong gawing mabuti ang trabaho. Ang mahalaga po ay dedicated po kayo sa ginagawa niyo,” Cabrera said. 

Padilla also asked the witness if he met with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo in December 2025, which Cabrera answered affirmatively. 

Robredo ran for president in 2022 against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who then was Duterte’s running mate. 

She was also the vice president during the term of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Robredo came second in Pulse Asia’s presidential election survey in September, following the leading Duterte. 

Cabrera is the prosecution’s last witness in the trial. His testimony forms part of the second article of impeachment, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, committing Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth violations, and failing to divest from business interests.