Politics · Philippines Bureau
Duterte defense team to cross-examine financial analyst in impeachment trial
Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team will challenge testimony from a forensic financial analyst who claims to have uncovered evidence of hidden wealth. The cross-examination is scheduled to begin Monday following the prosecution's presentation of the expert witness.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte is preparing to scrutinize the findings of forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera, who has been tasked by prosecutors to establish allegations of undisclosed assets belonging to the vice president and her spouse.
Cabrera previously testified on October 9, presenting detailed findings from his forensic analysis that allegedly pointed to unreported wealth accumulation. His direct examination centered on documentation and financial records that prosecutors contend demonstrate unexplained income sources.
Monday's cross-examination will provide Duterte's legal representatives an opportunity to challenge Cabrera's methodology, conclusions, and the reliability of evidence he presented to support the prosecution's case. The proceedings continue as the impeachment trial advances through its evidentiary phase.
The vice president faces impeachment charges, with financial irregularities forming a central component of the complaint against her. Her defense has previously signaled plans to dispute the characterization of her financial records and the interpretations drawn from them by prosecution witnesses.
The trial represents a significant political development in the Philippines and has drawn considerable public attention as proceedings unfold in the Senate.