Duterte impeachment defense to present wealth evidence Monday

Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team will begin presenting evidence on Monday to counter allegations of unexplained wealth, opening a crucial phase of her impeachment trial. The evidence will include corporate, property and financial records covering 2022 to 2025.

The defense will open its case with Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp. She is expected to testify on the companies' general information sheets and audited financial statements.

“We will hit the ground running on Monday and in the weeks ahead.”

The Senate impeachment court has served subpoenas on 22 of the 24 defense witnesses. Former law school dean Rene Sarmiento was not issued a subpoena after the defense removed his name from its witness list.

Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered the issuance of subpoenas for three witnesses: lawyer Anel Martin S. Antero, Chadrin S. Parian, and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar M. Barcellano. They are expected to testify on matters relevant to Article II, the remaining impeachment charge involving allegations of unexplained wealth.

Escudero also granted a request to move Balucanag-Punay's appearance from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10 because she was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging examination on Monday. The court allowed her testimony to be rescheduled while permitting succeeding witnesses to proceed.

The impeachment court is preparing for an intensive hearing schedule, with proceedings potentially running almost daily from 10 a.m. until around 6 p.m. Monday's proceedings will continue despite an afternoon break for the Senate's legislative session.