The House prosecution panel on Wednesday welcomed the dismissal of the complaint filed by lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the ruling of the Quezon City prosecutor clears the way for witnesses to testify freely on allegations involving the vice president’s unexplained wealth.
House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua of Manila said the decision came at a crucial time as the Senate impeachment trial prepares to tackle Impeachment Article II, which centers on allegations that Duterte accumulated wealth that remains unexplained.
Chua said the complaint filed by Carpio was expected to be dismissed because it was allegedly intended to pressure lawmakers and witnesses involved in the impeachment proceedings.
‘We expected this complaint to be dismissed because it was clearly a form of harassment against us for simply performing our duties,’ Chua said, adding that the complaint had no sufficient legal basis.
The House prosecutor maintained that the actions questioned by Carpio were performed as part of official congressional proceedings and were protected by legislative immunity.
‘We carried out these actions in the course of our work during the committee hearings, and we know that these activities are covered by immunity,’ Chua said.
Following the dismissal, Chua said the prosecution can now proceed with presenting evidence without concerns that witnesses may be discouraged from appearing before the impeachment court.
‘This will no longer be an obstacle for witnesses to testify in the impeachment trial, especially since the issue to be discussed now concerns unexplained wealth,’ he said.
Chua expressed confidence that witnesses would no longer hesitate to participate because of the complaint filed against government officials and lawmakers.
‘I believe the witnesses will no longer be afraid because this pending case can no longer be used to discourage them from testifying,’ he added.
The prosecution expects around 10 witnesses from government agencies and private individuals, as well as representatives from at least 15 banking institutions, to testify regarding bank records, statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), and the business interests of Duterte and her husband.
The Senate Impeachment Court has already received thousands of pages of financial documents obtained through subpoenas requested by the House prosecution. Both the prosecution and defense teams are currently reviewing and marking the documents for possible presentation during trial.
Chua said the prosecution is also exploring whether the defense panel could agree to stipulate certain bank documents to help speed up the proceedings and avoid unnecessary delays.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is among the witnesses expected to testify on Article II. Chua said Trillanes could provide significant information because he was among the first to present documents related to alleged unexplained wealth involving the Duterte family.
‘Trillanes will provide vital information because he was the first to present evidence, including bank documents, related to these allegations,’ Chua said.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union also described Trillanes’ testimony as important, citing the former senator’s previous investigations into the alleged wealth of the Duterte family.
‘He was able to closely examine these issues and reveal information about them in the past, so his testimony will be significant,’ Ortega said.
Meanwhile, House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Partylist also welcomed the dismissal of Carpio’s complaint, saying the ruling affirmed that lawmakers acted within the scope of their official duties.
‘It was only proper for the prosecutor’s office to dismiss the malicious and baseless complaint filed against our House prosecutors and other lawmakers,’ Ridon said.
Carpio had accused House members and government officials of violating bank secrecy, data privacy, and anti-money laundering laws over the disclosure of financial records belonging to him and Vice President Duterte.
In its 23-page resolution, the Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor ruled that the actions questioned in the complaint were connected to the officials’ public responsibilities and were performed in relation to their government functions.
Ridon said the development allows the impeachment proceedings to move forward, adding that the case against the vice president is entering a significant phase.
‘The world is becoming smaller for the Duterte-Carpio couple, and we are now heading towards the most important part of this process,’ Ridon said. Jovee Marie Dela Cruz