Duterte defense team calls House AR presentation a ‘planned’ move

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Monday said the acknowledgment receipts (ARs) presented by the House prosecution panel in her trial were part of a “planned” move.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said this after the prosecution panel presented ARs reflecting confidential fund expenditures made by the Office of the Vice President during the 11th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

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Some of these included documents bearing peculiar names, including Mary Grace Piattos, Andy Lim and Alejandro Pikit.

Asked if choosing these specific documents—out of 800 ARs—was a calculated move on the part of the prosecution, Poa responded “of course,” but clarified that it is expected and within the prerogative of the panel.

“Of course planado kung ano ‘yung ippresent mo, but let’s not cast aspersions also against prosecution pagdating doon, syempre strategy nila ‘yon and it’s within their prerogative kung aling ARs,”  said Poa in a press conference.

(Of course, what you present is planned. But let’s not cast aspersions on the prosecution over that. That’s part of their strategy, and it’s well within their prerogative to decide which ARs present.)

“Kahit naman sa defense, kung ano ‘yung ilalabas namin in a random stack syempre full control na rin kami kung ano ilalabas namin,” he added.

(The same goes for the defense. Whatever documents we choose to present from a random stack is entirely within our control, we also have full discretion over what we decide to bring out.)

Poa then explained that it was a valid move and that “there was nothing wrong with it,” stating the defense could also employ the same tactics once their time to present evidence comes.

Meanwhile, Poa also provided context to the reason why he objected to Kapunan’s style of presenting the documents during the trial.

This as Kapunan directly alluded to the peculiar names, saying she could not easily read the names because it was “ang dilim” (it’s dark) and because someone’s eyes were closed, or “pikit.”

“Although she stated for the record na she was just reading how it was written, but to me kasi ang dating sa’kin is nabibigyan ng kulay,” said Poa.

(Although she stated for the record that she was merely reading it as it was written, to me it came across as though it was being given a certain spin.)

“Of course no offense meant to Atty. Kapunan, I’m just doing my job as counsel and I found the question to be questionable,” he added.

‘Nothing we haven’t read before’

Poa then stated in the same press conference that nothing “explosive” was revealed on the 11th day of the trial as the documents presented by the prosecution were already part of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings.

“Kumbaga, nothing we haven’t read before,” said Poa.

(Basically, nothing we haven’t read before.)

“I think ang hindi lang nasasagot ng COA pa sa ngayon ano ‘yung nangyari after ng findings nila, which I’m sure we’ll get to in the coming days,” he added.

(I think the only thing the COA hasn’t answered yet is what happened after their findings, which I’m sure we’ll get to in the coming days.) /jpv