Duterte defense witness list lacks expert to dispute P817M asset gap

MANILA — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has not presented an expert witness capable of disputing financial allegations against her, raising questions about how the vice president plans to address a documented P817 million asset gap, according to Lorna Kapunan, one of the House prosecutors handling the impeachment case.

Kapunan expressed concern Saturday after reviewing the list of 25 defense witnesses submitted to the Senate impeachment court. The absence of a financial or forensic accounting expert on the roster suggests the defense may struggle to counter the prosecution's documented findings on the alleged discrepancies in the vice president's declared assets and income sources.

The P817 million gap represents a significant component of the impeachment charges filed against Duterte-Carpio, with prosecutors arguing the unexplained wealth raises serious questions about potential corruption or undisclosed income streams. The prosecution has presented its own financial analysis to support these allegations.

The case continues to unfold in the Senate impeachment court, with both sides preparing their legal arguments. Duterte-Carpio has previously denied wrongdoing and challenged the accuracy of the prosecution's financial calculations.