Barbers: Duterte defense team faces big challenge in refuting evidence

MANILA – It would be a huge challenge for the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte to refute the evidence presented by the House prosecution panel, prosecution spokesperson Ace Barbers said on Saturday.

The prosecution panel has laid out evidence in relation to the remaining article of impeachment or the alleged unexplained wealth.

Barbers stressed that their evidence, including the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, are from government agencies, which cannot be fabricated nor manipulated.

“We are confident that we can secure a conviction. Bakit? Du’n po sa aming nailatag na ebidensya, matibay at malakas po ang aming paniwala na itong mga ebidensiyang ito ay sumusuporta du’n sa aming alegasyon,” Barbers said during the Saturday News Forum.

“Isang malaking challenge para sa defense na i-rebut ito at ito ay pasinungalingan dahil kung legal ang mga basehan ng pagkuha nitong mga dokumentong ito, I don’t see kung saan pa papasok ang rebuttal o ang pag-dispute dito ng defense,” he said.

The group Bantay Senado shared the same view.

“Ano na lang itsura nitong mga senador na ito kung ayaw nilang maniwala sa bank records, AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) records, audited financial statements at magbubulag-bulagan sila na pinagbabawal ng Konstitusyon na nagnenegosyo ang vice president. ‘Pag vice president ka, ‘di pwedeng raketera ka,” Bantay Senado co-convenor Dino de Leon said.

The vice president has been linked to firms GenCorp and Cale88. 

Cale 88 allegedly received around P300 million from China. GenCorp, meanwhile, had transactions with the city government of Davao, her bailiwick.

Barbers said there was a conflict of interest in GenCorp’s deal with the city government.

“‘Yung non-divestment nung kanyang mga business interest o financial interest sa mga ‘yan, merong klarong probisyon ang ating Saligang Batas diyan. Kung ito’y ‘di natupad, ‘di nagawa, definitely, may klarong paglabag sa Saligang Batas,” he said.

Moreover, de Leon said they are “excited” to hear the explanation of the defense team on the allegations.

Defense team spokesperson Michael Poa earlier said they would adjust their presentation of evidence following the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles of impeachment. 

The impeachment court will resume its trial on Nov. 9.