MANILA – House prosecutor and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno on Tuesday described the Senate impeachment court’s decision to subpoena the financial and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, as a major development in the prosecution’s bid to prove the impeachment charge of unexplained wealth.

Speaking at a press briefing, Diokno said the ruling marked significant progress in the prosecution’s preparations for presenting evidence under the second article of impeachment.

“‘Yung nangyari po kahapon sa aming pananaw ay isang big step forward insofar as the prosecution of Article II on unexplained wealth is concerned,” Diokno said.

He added: “Pero gusto ko rin bigyang-diin na ito ay isang developing story. Hindi pa ito tapos dahil simula pa lang actually ito ng pagpre-prepare namin for the documents that will be produced on July 30.”

On Monday, the Senate impeachment court granted most of the House prosecution panel’s motions seeking subpoenas for Duterte’s bank records, tax records, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) documents, and corporate records involving businesses in which she and Carpio have financial interests.

The court, however, excluded foreign currency-denominated accounts from the subpoena and denied the request covering two of the 21 corporations identified by the prosecution.

House prosecutors’ legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the ruling advanced the prosecution’s effort to establish the truth behind the allegations.

“Pinakita nito na sa isang impeachment proceeding, ang katotohanan ay hindi hinuhulaan at mas lalong hindi kinukubli. Ito ay sinisiyasat nang mabuti at pinapatunayan gamit ang ebidensya,” Tolosa said.

He said the subpoenaed documents would allow the prosecution to present what it described as a complete picture of the Vice President’s wealth when it begins presenting evidence on the unexplained wealth charge.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng pagkakataon na makita na natin nang buo ang buong yaman ng Bise Presidente. At napakahalaga nito with respect dito sa article on unexplained wealth,” Tolosa said.

Diokno clarified that the Senate impeachment court’s ruling was limited to compelling the production of documents and did not yet address whether they would be admissible as evidence during the trial.

“Tulad ng nabanggit natin kahapon, wala pa po tayo sa punto na admissibility of evidence ang pinag-uusapan,” he said.

“Ang nais lang namin doon sa aming request for subpoena ay madala dito ‘yung mga specified documents,” Diokno added.

He said the issue of admissibility would only be resolved after the prosecution formally offers the subpoenaed documents as evidence during its presentation of the unexplained wealth charge.

“‘Yung darating po tayo sa issue ng offer of evidence and admissibility of evidence ‘pag nagpe-presenta na ang Article II team ng aming ebidensya at testigo on unexplained wealth,” he said.

Diokno said the impeachment trial would first proceed with the article involving Duterte’s alleged threats, followed by the presentation of evidence on the alleged misuse of confidential funds before the prosecution takes up the unexplained wealth charge.

“Abangan po natin ‘yung mga susunod na kabanata. Marami pa naman mangyayari before we reach unexplained wealth. We will be dealing with, of course, today the threats article and then tomorrow we start with the confidential funds,” he said.