The Senate impeachment court in Manila resumed the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, marking a significant step in a process that has attracted considerable public attention.
Focus on Wealth Allegations
The trial centers on Article II, which addresses accusations related to unexplained wealth, incomplete declarations of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as undisclosed business interests.
The first witness will be Jaime Adalin, an officer from the Davao City Assessor’s Office.
Michael Poa, Defense Counsel
Earlier, the House prosecution panel withdrew three articles of impeachment, leaving only Article II for the defense to contend with.
- Defense witness Jaime Adalin will testify about asset declarations.
- Suzette Balucanag-Punay, a key witness, is absent due to a medical procedure.
Poa noted that corporate counsel Suzette Balucanag-Punay from GenCorp Industries Inc. would miss the hearing due to a scheduled magnetic resonance imaging examination.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro confirmed Punay’s absence and emphasized the importance of the remaining testimonies.
In preparation for the defense's presentation, Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol revealed that the court has served 22 of the 24 subpoenas requested by the defense team.