Abbey M.

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte expects the impeachment trial to move to Article I, concerning the alleged anomalous use of confidential funds.

This comes after the prosecution reduced the number of witnesses it will present, with NBI Director Melvin Matibag expected to be the last witness for Article IV.

The defense also maintained that it would be better to explain the withdrawal of witnesses through a press conference, so as not to influence the public and the senator-judges.

The camp of VP Duterte also said it respects the move made by the prosecution and stated that they may likewise reduce their own witnesses depending on how the trial proceeds.

"We're just shifting gears because I think after Director Matibag we will proceed with Article 1. So now, of course, we're focusing on Article 1. Although we're prepared for it, as the trial goes, parating may fine-tuning here and there."  Defense Team Spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said.

(We're just shifting gears because I think after Director Matibag we will proceed with Article 1. So now, of course, we're focusing on Article 1. Although we're prepared for it, as the trial goes, there's always fine-tuning here and there.)

"Gusto lang natin maging patas. Magwiwithdraw ng witness, simply have to say na magwi-withdraw ng witness." Atty. Poa added. 

(We just want to be fair. If a witness is to be withdrawn, we simply have to say that a witness will be withdrawn.)

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The House prosecution panel maintained that the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, dating back to when she served as Davao City vice mayor and mayor, are material to the ongoing impeachment trial against her.

On the sixth day of the trial, House Prosecutor Chel Diokno said their motion is based on a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which stated that the Vice President's financial transactions grew significantly from 2007 to 2013.

According to Diokno, Duterte's total financial activity during her time as a local official reached more than three billion pesos.

Diokno further asserted that these documents are directly linked to the Articles of Impeachment, which cite the Vice President's alleged unexplained wealth.

He clarified, however, that they are not asking the court to immediately accept the AMLC report as fact. 

Instead, the prosecution is requesting access to the bank records, AMLC reports, and documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue in order to scrutinize them.

Meanwhile, the Senate Impeachment Court deferred its decision on the prosecution panel's request to subpoena the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Attorney Manases Carpio.

Following a closed-door caucus among senator-judges yesterday, Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Senator Chiz Escudero announced that the ruling on the matter will be released on Monday, July 20.

The senator-judges reportedly want additional time to study the motion before deciding on the subpoena request.

When the impeachment court resumes on Monday, each senator-judge will have the opportunity to question both the prosecution and the defense regarding the motion.

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Senator Rodante Marcoleta was transferred earlier today to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) said he no longer needed to remain confined at the hospital.

However, he will still remain in isolation.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta no longer has mild pneumonia.

This was confirmed by UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi during the hearing of the Sandiganbayan Third Division earlier, where the senator also personally appeared in court.

Director Legaspi testified and was asked by the court about the results of the health examination conducted on the lawmaker yesterday.

According to Legaspi:

"Normal ang vital signs: bumaba na ang blood pressure, kumpleto ang blood count, walang sign ng infection, pero mayroon itong prostate enlargement na normal sa kanyang edad."

(His vital signs are normal: his blood pressure is going down, his blood count is complete, there is no sign of infection, but he has prostate enlargement, which is normal for his age.)

After the hearing, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) immediately brought the lawmaker to the detention facility in Payatas.

Although he no longer needs to stay in the hospital, UP-PGH's recommendation is that he should first be kept in isolation because of his health condition.

The court ordered that he be isolated first in a detention cell and that he cannot be transferred without a court order or permission.

Meanwhile, Marcoleta's co-accused in the plunder case former Congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu appeared with him before the Sandiganbayan.

Since the three had no pending motions before the court, their arraignment was carried out.

The three accused entered a not guilty plea.

Senator Marcoleta has not yet been arraigned due to his pending motion to quash.

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There is no basis or evidence to support the allegations of threats and the supposed assassin or hitman, Vice President Sara Duterte reiterated in response to the prosecution's accusations.

Meanwhile, the defense emphasized that they are ready to question the credibility of the testimonies being presented by the opposing panel, one of which involves the related investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Minutes before the start of the fifth day of the impeachment trial today, Vice President Sara Duterte issued a statement in connection with the testimony of NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc during the fourth day of the trial yesterday.

According to VP Duterte, the complaints of grave threats and inciting to sedition against her are clearly not supported by evidence. She added that the prosecution's repeated claim of threats has no truth to it, that the existence of an assassin was also allegedly invented, and that the evidence used to support these allegations was likewise merely fabricated.

Defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, meanwhile, said they wanted to focus the cross-examination of Lotoc on the presence of bias in the NBI's investigation against VP Duterte.

"It goes into bias, basically. Because then, now, the report is questionable. But whether we were able to establish bias, once again, is not something for us to say in the media because it would be unfair to the other party." Atty Poa said.

Atty. Poa did not elaborate further on the merits of the case, as this is prohibited under the rules of the Senate Impeachment Court. He said he is not in a position to say whether they were able to establish the alleged bias of the NBI, since the decision on this matter now rests with the assessment of the senator-judges.

Meanwhile, Atty. Justin Nicol Gular, one of the members of the defense panel, was designated as deputy spokesperson of the camp.

"Kasi nga minsan nahihirapan ako with the media schedule so I'm tapping him to be the deputy spokesperson of the defense team. So in case hindi ako available, at least someone will help the defense in terms of having to get our message across." Defense team spokesperson added.

(Because sometimes I have a hard time with the media schedule, so I'm tapping him to be the deputy spokesperson of the defense team. So in case I'm not available, at least someone will help the defense in terms of having to get our message across.)

VP Sara also emphasized in her statement that the allegations against her are an attack on the integrity of institutions and public trust, a waste of the country's resources, and an obstruction to the search for truth.

Lastly, the Vice President said that the impeachment proceedings should be based on real evidence and not on fabricated allegations, because the law is grounded in truth and not merely in stories.

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The ongoing impeachment trial can be considered the peak of the feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, a political analyst said.

According to a political analyst, the trial against VP Sara has no other motive but to level the playing field ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
"Actually itong kabuuang impeachment trial tingin ko dito ito yung pagtatapos nung napakahaba nilang pagtutunggali simula nung sila ay naghiwalay bilang parte ng uniteam o political alliance" Prof. Dennis Coronacion said. 

(Actually, this whole impeachment trial, I think this is the culmination of their very long feud since they separated as part of the Uniteam or political alliance)

It cannot be denied that the ongoing impeachment trial remains part of the feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

According to political analyst Professor Dennis Coronacion, the trial against the Vice President became the peak of the long-standing disagreement between the two former allies in Uniteam.

The impeachment could reportedly result in VP Sara's removal from her position.

"Nag-umpisa 'yan sa word war, tapos takutan, tapos ito na, seryosahan na, impeachment trial na, na ang puwedeng maging consequence nito sa career ni Vice President ay seryoso, kapag siya ay natalo dito, na-convict, maaaring magkaroon ng penalty na bawal na siyang tumakbo at humawak ng anumang posisyon sa pamahalaan, kasama na doon yung pagtakbo niya bilang Pangulo," the analyst added. 

(That started with a word war, then intimidation, then now it's serious — the impeachment trial, where the consequence to the Vice President's career can be serious. If she loses here, if convicted, there could be a penalty barring her from running for or holding any position in government, including running for President)

According to Professor Coronacion, there is no doubt that the current trial against the Vice President is connected to the upcoming 2028 presidential elections.

Where the primary motive behind it is to level the playing field for the upcoming election.

This is because VP Sara is still considered a strong rival for the presidency.

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