MANILA, Philippines – Hinimok ng defense team ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong Miyerkules, Hulyo 15, ang Senate impeachment court na ibasura ang hiling ng House prosecution panel sa paglalabas ng subpoena para sa bank at tax records nito.
Sa ikaanim na araw ng impeachment trial, ipinresenta ng defense at prosecution teams ang kanilang legal na posisyon kaugnay sa hiling ng prosekusyon para sa Senate impeachment court na mag-isyu ng mga subpoena para sa bank records ni Duterte maging sa kanyang tax-related documents na laman ng selyadong kahon mula sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“The issue before the impeachment power is not whether you possess the power to issue a subpoena, the real issue is whether such power may be exercised in a manner that disregards due process and compels the production of documents and information that is beyond what is allowed by law,” sinabi ni defense lawyer Atty. Michael Poa sa kanyang opening speech.
“When a subpoena becomes oppressive, unreasonable and merely issued for the very purpose that is a hope that somewhere, somehow, something incriminating will come out, it ceases to be an instrument of justice, it becomes a weapon of fishing expedition. That’s exactly what confronts the very court today and that is why the defense has taken the position that prosecution’s request must be denied,” dagdag pa niya.
Ayon sa depensa, inaakusahan ng prosekusyon si Duterte sa umano’y pagkakaroon ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman bago maghanap ng ebidensya.
Ani Poe, ang paglalabas ng subpoena ay magiging paglabag sa batas sa confidentiality na kabilang sa Anti-Money Laundering Act, Tax Code, at Bank Secrecy Law.
“We should not allow this. In closing, the prosecution has repeatedly invoked accountability. We agree with them. No one is above the law, but in the same manner, no one must fall below or be outside the protection of the law,” sinabi ni Poa.
“Impeachment is indeed a powerful Constitutional tool but your Honors, impeachment is not a magic wand that one can just waive to transform an illegal act into a legal act; to transfer illegal access to legal access. That is not what the Constitution contemplates, that is not the laws enacted by the Congress contemplate; that is not something the honorable Impeachment Court should allow,” dagdag pa niya.
