Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to her legal counsel, as she refuses to enter the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, citing safety concerns, before posting bail for her grave threats case on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte cannot be compelled to authenticate the subpoenaed financial documents in her trial, the Senate impeachment court ruled Tuesday.
While the prosecution had already implied openness to drop the request for admissions so long as Duterte's lawyers agree to enter into stipulations, presiding officer Francis Escudero deemed it necessary to issue a ruling regarding the matter.
This is to guide the parties in the ongoing proceedings and "also for any future persuasive effect this may have on future impeachment courts," he said.
House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno said Monday that Duterte's admission of the documents could accelerate the trial, as it allows them to skip the presentation of up to 20 witnesses.
But Escudero stressed that "any such measure to expedite the proceedings must always yield to the protection of the substantial rights of the respondents under the constitution."
"The bill of rights applies throughout the impeachment process," he said, adding that Duterte's right against self-incrimination "must therefore be respected in this trial."
Escudero said the prosecution cannot shift its burden of proof to Duterte "through the simple expedience of a request for admission."
"The impeachment court therefore rules that respondent cannot be required to serve a written response to the request for admission," he said.
Diokno told the Senate impeachment court that they were willing to drop their request for admissions of financial documents of Duterte and her husband if her lawyers could instead enter into stipulations, which allow parties to skip debates on a particular point or issue.
Duterte's lead defense lawyer, Sheila Sison suggested Monday that stipulations on the documents should be made "when the prosecution will make its offer on the testimonial evidence accompanying any documentary evidence that they would want to present before this court."
The Senate impeachment court is currently tackling Duterte's alleged unexplained wealth and business interests. —With a report from Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News
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