Escudero upholds admissibility of pre-VP Duterte financial disclosures

MANILA — Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has determined that Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) filed before Vice President Sara Duterte took office may be presented as evidence in her impeachment proceedings, dealing a setback to the defense on Day 25 of the trial.

The defense team objected to testimony from lawyer Karen Batu, arguing that financial disclosures covering periods when Duterte had not yet become an impeachable officer should be excluded from the trial record. The prosecution had sought to introduce these earlier SALNs as part of its case.

Escudero's ruling allows the documents spanning Duterte's tenure in previous positions to remain part of the evidentiary record. The presiding officer determined that the historical financial records provide relevant context for examining the vice president's asset declarations and financial transactions.

The decision represents a significant procedural victory for prosecutors building their case against Duterte in what has become one of the Senate's most closely watched proceedings. The inclusion of pre-vice-presidential documents may enable broader examination of Duterte's financial history during cross-examination and prosecution arguments.

The impeachment trial continues as both prosecution and defense prepare for subsequent phases of testimony and evidence presentation before the full Senate body.