Screengrab of House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro) and trial spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (1st District, Lanao del Sur) during their recent press conferences on October 26 and 29, 2026 respectively at the House of Representatives. (Courtesy: House of Representatives)
Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team has objected to all documentary evidence submitted by the House impeachment prosecution in its formal offer of evidence, including the vice president’s own asset declarations and financial records obtained from banks and government agencies.
In an ambush interview Tuesday, House prosecutor Terry Ridon said the objections covered all documentary evidence supporting Article II, which accuses Duterte of possessing unexplained wealth and failing to properly disclose her assets.
These include her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), banking documents, insurance records, and information obtained from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Ridon questioned the blanket objections, noting that the defense had participated in the proceedings and cross-examined prosecution witnesses who identified, authenticated and explained the financial records.
The prosecution presented banking officials, government financial regulators and forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera, whose examination identified approximately P817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth, with a broader estimate reaching P1.5 billion under less conservative assumptions.
The House prosecution submitted its formal offer of evidence on Oct. 21 after completing the presentation of witnesses and financial documents involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
The Senate impeachment court must now determine which exhibits should be admitted. Ridon expressed confidence that the senator-judges would carefully evaluate the defense objections rather than reject the entire body of evidence.
The defense is entitled to challenge the admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence, but the final decision rests with the senator-judges.
Ridon said the prosecution would await the court’s ruling when the trial resumes on Nov. 9, when the House panel is expected to cross-examine the defense witnesses.
Meanwhile, House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong maintained that the Senate impeachment court has been conducting Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial fairly and efficiently despite public skepticism about its ability to deliver an impartial verdict.
Adiong cited a Social Weather Stations survey showing that only 28 percent of Filipinos had much trust in the Senate’s ability to deliver a fair verdict, while 35 percent expressed little trust and 32 percent were undecided.
However, the same survey found that 50 percent believed the impeachment court was giving both sides proper consideration, while 51 percent agreed that its final decision should be accepted whether Duterte is convicted or acquitted.
The survey was conducted from Sept. 21 to 27, before prosecutors withdrew three of the four impeachment articles and completed the presentation of evidence on the remaining Article II concerning Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.
Adiong said the House prosecution respected and complied with the court’s directives.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the presiding officer in balancing the legal requirements of an impeachment trial with the political responsibilities of senator-judges, who must assess the evidence while continuing their legislative duties. He described impeachment proceedings as having both legal and political dimensions.
Adiong said the prosecution decided to withdraw the articles involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and grave threats to avoid burdening the Senate and the public with a lengthy trial. The move allowed the court to focus on the unexplained wealth allegations while accommodating the senator-judges’ legislative responsibilities.