The House prosecution panel said the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations of unexplained wealth remains strong even if the Senate Impeachment Court does not allow the opening of the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box.
The statement came as the prosecution and defense continue to dispute the handling of the sealed box during the impeachment trial’s pre-trial proceedings.
According to House prosecution legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., the prosecution still has sufficient evidence to support Article II of the impeachment complaint, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth.
Tolosa said one of the key pieces of evidence the prosecution intends to present is a financial report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
However, he acknowledged that the sealed BIR box remains “crucial” because its contents could help determine whether the Vice President’s reported income was lawfully obtained and would complete the overall financial picture presented by the prosecution.
Meanwhile, House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong claimed that the defense opposes the opening of the sealed box because it allegedly has no clear explanation for the increase in Duterte’s wealth.
Adiong also argued that the defense wanted to avoid a full discussion of issues related to the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), describing its position as “half-baked.”
The defense has opposed the opening of the sealed BIR box during the pre-trial conference.
As of this time, the Senate Impeachment Court has not ruled on whether the sealed BIR box will be opened or admitted as evidence in the proceedings.
