Defense, prosecution start oral arguments on tax, bank records

MANILA, Philippines — No witnesses will be presented on the sixth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday, but the defense and the prosecution will deliver its oral arguments on the bank and tax records of Duterte.

It was the House prosecution panel that requested the impeachment court to subpoena the bank and tax records of Duterte for the purpose of presentation when it tackles the impeachment Article II.

READ: Prosecution won’t present Lopez anymore: Testimony is redundant

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Article II refers to Duterte’s supposed unexplained wealth, and assets undeclared on her Statement of Net worth, Assets and Liabilities.

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Each side will be given 15 minutes each to present their argument for or against the issuance of a subpoena to the said records.

READ: Escudero: Impeach court to rule on bank, tax record subpoena Wednesday

The two will also have ten minutes for rebuttal.

After the arguments, the senator-judges will hold a private caucus to jointly rule on the issuance of subpoenas, or, if needed, allot time for the Senator-judges to debate on the court decision.

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Only then will the court officially rule on the issuance of the subpoenas.

Initially, Duterte’s aide, Zuleika Lopez and House Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Capt. Belinda Bello were supposed to be presented as the prosecution’s third and fourth witnesses scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, but the camp opted to skip the two to avoid redundancy in statements, and in hopes to expedite the trial. /jpv

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