MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court resumed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, with the defense team expected to begin presenting its evidence and witnesses to challenge the remaining impeachment charge.
The proceedings will focus on Article II, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth, incomplete declarations of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and undisclosed business interests.
The House prosecution panel earlier withdrew three articles of impeachment, leaving Article II as the sole remaining charge.
Duterte’s defense counsel, Michael Poa, said the first witness would be Jaime Adalin, an officer from the Davao City Assessor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp., will be unable to attend Monday’s hearing due to a previously scheduled medical procedure.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro confirmed Punay’s absence, saying she is scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging examination.
Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol over the weekend said the court served 22 of the 24 subpoenas requested by the defense panel ahead of its presentation of evidence.
