Reps. Ridon, Adiong hold press briefing on impeachment trial updates — July 30

[14:50] Welcome to our press briefing for today. [14:54] We have for today we have the impeachment prosecutor and because our representative, [15:04] Representative Teve Vibond and the Prosecution Spokesperson, Representative Lanau Representative [15:10] Zia Alonto Adjong. [15:15] So good morning, sirs. [15:18] Before we begin the press con, let's hear the opening statements of our resource persons, [15:24] if any. [15:25] Sir. [15:26] Good morning, everyone. [15:27] Let's go to Yacong Zia. [15:29] That's the prepared statement. [15:33] Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. [15:34] Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi ta'alai wabarakatuh. [15:37] Good morning, everyone. [15:38] First of all, we want to thank our partners, our friends in the media for joining us today [15:45] for this press conference. [15:48] During this press conference, all topics will be covered and we will make sure that nothing [15:52] is unusual or suspicious in our discussion. [15:56] Atin pong sasagutin ang mga naging agam-agam at katanungan ng taong bahing ukol sa naging [16:02] hearing kahapon po. [16:03] On the first day of presenting its evidence for Article 1 on confidential funds, the prosecution [16:09] has proved, without a doubt, and as stipulated by the defense, that the people's money from [16:15] the Treasury was paid out and in cash by representatives of Vice President Sara Duterte in her roles as [16:22] Secretary of Education and as Vice President. [16:26] Article 1 charges the Vice President with culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, [16:31] and betrayal of public trust related to her alleged misuse of 612.5 million in confidential [16:38] funds as head of the Office of the Vice President and of the Department of Education. [16:45] Sa madaling salita, mayroon pong ipinagkatiwala na pera sa Vice President na waldas o sa pamamagitan [17:08] ng encashment. At yun naman po ang naging testimonya ng dalawang land bank managers na ating pong [17:14] pinresenta kahapon sa impeachment court. [17:18] Mahalaga po ito dahil kasama ito sa pagpapakita ng pagdanoy ng pera mula sa Treasury patungo sa palad [17:25] ng Vice President. And in the following weeks, the prosecution will show how VP Sara's handling of [17:31] these funds will show how these funds were in complete disregard of her oath of office and betrayal of public trust, [17:39] which constitutes betrayal of public trust. Sabay-sabay po natin sundan ang money trail dahil ang pagpapaliwanag [17:47] para sa taong bayan mula po sa kanilang pondo o pera ay hindi dapat magtatapos sa apat na gym bags. [17:55] Maraming salamat po and we are ready now to answer your questions. [18:01] Bago yun sa mga pagbubukas po ng mga tanong, mahalaga po yung update ngayong araw na ito. [18:08] Lumilit na yung mundo ng ating pong pangalawang Pangulo. [18:12] Yung pong mga bank records, bank documents ay isa-isa nang isinusumite ngayong araw na ito [18:21] sa Senado para ho sa Senate Impeachment Court. [18:27] Yung po yung una. Pangalawa, yung pong BIR documents na mag-asawang Duterte Carpio [18:35] at ang kanila pong mga pamilya ay isinumite na rin sa Senate Impeachment Court. [18:41] Nagbigay ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas ng kanyang approval para ilabas ito pong mga dokumentong ito. [18:50] So inaantay po namin yung po updates mula sa AMLC. [18:56] Pero ngayon din po yung deadline ng kanila pong submission ng lahat po ng transaction records reports [19:04] ng AMLC relating to the Duterte Carpio couple. [19:09] And again, to be clear, we are talking about $6.7 billion in total transactions, $4.4 billion in inflows of the Duterte Carpio couple, [19:23] which will be formally submitted to the Senate Impeachment Court hopefully within the day. [19:29] So, yun po yung una. Pangalawa, nabanggitin ho kahapon yung pong mga naganap sa korte, yung pong discussions po at testimonya [19:42] ng dalawa pong witnesses, ang sabi ho nila, in their entirety of their career, ngayon lang ho sila nakakita [19:49] ng ganun pong kalaking encashment ng pera. Kaya nga ho nila sinabi na ito po ay unusual, ito po ay kakaiba. [19:59] So, I think very relevant yung pong ganun pong paglalahad. Doon po sa tanong kung paano ginamit o gagamitin at that point [20:10] yung pong bultong pera ng yun. Kasi I think as far as we're concerned, ang itsura po nun, parang linimas yung pong pera [20:20] para sa confidential funds. And as we will see in the next course of the proceedings, [20:28] kung paano actually ginamit po yung pong pondo na ito. Sapagkat sa susunod pong panahon, ang isasalang na po yung COA. [20:37] So, mapag-uusapan po dito yung pong paraan kung paano po ginamit yung pong 2022 confidential funds, [20:44] yung paraan paano po ginamit yung 2023 confidential funds, bakit umabot sa notice of this allowance at decision with finality [20:54] yung 2022 confidential funds, at bakit merong ongoing ND, yung pong 2023 confidential funds. [21:04] At malinang po, yung nakita natin from the COA document itself, no? [21:08] Ginamit ang confidential funds for non-confidential expenses, katulad po ng leadership training at iba pa. [21:18] So, yun po yung mayor na dahilan, bakit po pinapasoli sa pangalang Pangulo Personal, ito pong [21:25] 448 million in confidential funds. Yung po yung una. At pangalawa, syempre nakikita din po natin doon sa [21:35] COA report po mismo, at doon sa iba pang mga susunod pa pong mga witnesses, katulad po ng NBI [21:42] at noong pong Philippine Statistics Authority, na ang mga pumirma doon po sa mga acknowledgement [21:49] receipts, ay parang nagmula lang sa isang grupo ng mga tao. At hindi po piniramahan isa-isa [21:56] dito pong supposedly nakatanggap dito pong confidential funds na ito. So, yun po muna. [22:02] At yan po yung basically tinakbo kahapon ngayon at yung mga inaasahan po natin sa mga susunod pa. [22:09] Binubukas na po namin yung kapag para sa mga tanong. [22:12] Ang una pong question ay manggagaling po kay Ms. Tina Panganiban Perez ng GMA. [22:19] Good morning po, Kongs. Yung sinasabi po ninyong BIR and bank documents, will these be [22:26] more explosive than the AMLOC report that was revealed during the Justice Committee hearings? [22:35] Tingin ko po, magiging malaki po nga piraso ng ebidensya ito. Kasi this will be [22:41] confirmatory of what we had seen in the Justice Committee hearings relating to the [22:48] AMLOC. Kasi pagpapakita na po yung punga bank records nung aktual na mga pumasok at [22:55] lumabas sa accounts ng mag-asawang Duterte Carpio kung sufficiently reflected po ba ito [23:02] doon sa una, salen ng pangalawang Pangulo, tsaka doon po sa mga tax payments ng mag-asawang Duterte Carpio. [23:12] Doon makikita rin po natin kung within the period ng 2019 to 2024, meron bang aktual na [23:19] perang pumasok o lumabas dito po sa mga bank accounts na ito sapagkat yung pung salen ng [23:26] 2019 to 2024, wala pong line item doon na cash in bank. At basically, kung wala kong cash in bank [23:34] doon sa mga salen items na yun at may nakita po tayong perang pumasok, perang lumabas, ang [23:42] tanong po natin ngayon, ba't hindi po ito nakalista bilang line item sa kanya pung salen? [23:48] Dahil babalik po tayo doon sa basic premise kung bakit po nakonvict si former Chief Justice [23:56] Renato Corona, salen violations po ito, non-declaration ng mga particular na mga pag-aari [24:03] doon po sa kanya pong salen. So the same standard should apply to the Vice President on this [24:10] particular non-declaration of salen line items. [24:15] Idadagdag ko lang po, pagdating po sa mga pieces of evidence, may kanya-kanyang story po yan. [24:22] Kaya nga po kung ikukumpara po natin kung ano po yung mas matimbang sa mga lahat na [24:27] ipapresenta ng House Prosecution Panel, ang masasabi po namin sa ating mga taong bayan, [24:31] ito po yung kabuuan na litrato o larawan kung paano po yung mga sinasabing allegation of [24:38] misuse of public funds na napapaayon doon sa Article 1 ay mabigyang eksplenasyon at mabigyang [24:46] kasagutan. Hindi lang po ang korte pero ang ating taong bayan. Ibabangga po natin ito as what [24:51] Congressman Terry Ridon said earlier na ibabangga po natin ito sa mga other ebedensya para [24:57] matahipo at mabigyan po ng kaliwanagan ng ating taong bayan. Dahil ang una-una po talaga nating [25:02] gustong malaman dito sa Article 1 na ito ay pagpapaliwanag. Kung ayaw po magpaliwanag [25:08] ni Vice Presidente, diretso po mula sa kanya, mukhang ang ebedensya ang dapat magpaliwanag [25:13] at yun po ang susundan po natin. Ang paliwanag na ng ebedensya ay hindi po yan magsisinungaling. [25:20] Maray pong salamat. The next question will be from... [25:22] Wait, meron pa ako, Jay. [25:23] Okay, sige po. [25:25] Sir, would you like to react to what the President said yesterday? I will quote her. [25:29] I have a husband. My husband has a mistress. I can hire a gunman. [25:34] For P5,000 to kill the mistress, that is how. For P5,000, that is how bad gun violence [25:41] in the Philippines is. And that is again, yes, EJK. So how can you say that all your listed [25:47] victims, all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war? It can be that it is [25:53] a crime against passion. It can be murder because of a third party in a relationship. It can be [25:59] plain holdup. So how can they say now that all the victims there are victims of the drug war that is [26:08] supposed to be a crime against humanity? [26:10] Well, I do not want to consider or even think that our Vice President seems to have a [26:25] mastery over this kind of issues. Ayoko sanang tanggapin ng ating Vice Presidente ay mukhang [26:33] na-alamin, mayroon siyang mga mastery doon sa patayan sa kalsada, no? Pagdating sa kaharasan, [26:41] violence, I do not want to consider her having this knowledge and this mastery. Pero the opposite speaks [26:49] otherwise. Siya po mismo ang naglalatag. Ang unang tatanungan po ng ating taong bayan, paano po niya ito [26:55] nalalaman to a point na detalyado ang kanyang pag-i-illustrate. But then again, these cases, this issue on peace and order, [27:05] talagang ano po yan? Talagang meron po talagang legitimacy yan. At meron po talagang ginagawa ang ating ahensya, [27:15] ang kapulisan, para po sugpuin ang ganitong violence. But coming from the Vice President herself, hindi ho maalis [27:24] maaalis sa taong bayan ang kanilang katanungan, no? Again, considering that we just concluded [27:34] the Article 4, which is grave threat, ito'y nagpapatunay na lamang na pagdating sa mga pagbanta [27:44] o pangyayaring karahasan sa kalsada ay mukhang meron po siyang kaalaman dito. [27:53] Well, again, with respect, I think the Vice President has a violent mind. Hindi ho ba? [27:59] She's being prosecuted today on threats. The last thing I think any person being investigated on threats [28:06] to do would be to talk about threats, no? At yun exactly yung pinag-usapan na naman po niyang muli, [28:14] yung pong contracting a killer for 5,000. And the question is being asked of her, ito ho ba yung presyo [28:23] na iginawad ng ating pong pangalang Pangulo nung siya po ay nagbanta laban sa Pangulo [28:30] at sa kanya pong pamilya? Is the price of the life of the President 5,000 pesos only? [28:36] Hindi ba? Yan ho ba yung exact mechanism kung pa paano ho niya yan ginawa nung nagbanta siya [28:43] sa Pangulo at sa kanya pong pamilya? Yung po yung una. Pero pangalawa, speaking entirely on gun violence, [28:53] and EJ case, alam po ninyo, very documented po yung laman nung pong complaint asunto [29:01] laban sa dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi po yan dahil may mga nag-away lang pong mag-asawa. [29:08] Yung pong mga namatay po doon na matay dahil nanlaban sila supposedly sa mga law enforcement [29:14] na nag-implement po ng Duterte Drug War. Hindi ho mababaw yung dahilan kung bakit ho siya [29:20] nakakulong ngayon sa dahig. So hindi ho natin papayagan na pababawin ng ating pong [29:28] pangalang Pangulo yung pong pagkakamatay ng napakaraming mga Pilipino dito po sa Duterte Drug War. [29:38] I-dag-dag-dag-dag ko lang po, if she's really that confident about the information that she has, [29:43] ng 5,000 yung ibibigay doon sa mga hitman, at the very least, the people expect her to share this information [29:51] to our local investigative agencies or the police at the very least, kung meron po siyang ganito mga impormasyon. [29:59] Para po, kung yun naman po yung intention niya talaga, para masulba itong mga ganitong klaseng pangyayari sa kalsada, [30:07] bilang vice president, she does not really need to be an ally of any administration for that matter. [30:22] Her office, being a public office, demands that she at least shares this information, if that is what she intends, [30:32] to prove na para mawala itong ganitong klaseng karahasan ito sa kalsada ng nangyayari. [30:39] Last po from me, pero non-impeachment. Pareho po kasi kayong members ng Ways and Means Committee. [30:45] Ano po yung thoughts niyo doon sa sinabi ng Pangulo na itaas yung tax-free income tax ceiling to $350,000? [30:53] Meron din po kasi mga proposal dito sa House na mas mataas sa $350,000? [30:58] We support the president completely. [31:04] Kailangan po talagang palawakin po yung tulong na ginagawad ng pamahalaan sa mga mahihirap po nating kababayan [31:12] doon sa maliit ang kita at makapos ang kita na nagmumula po sa hanay po ng mahihirap at ordinaryong mga pamilyang Pilipinong. [31:22] Mahalaga po yun. [31:23] Pero syempre, hanggat maari, maitaas pa po natin yung pong ceiling nito pong pagtatanggal ng income tax payments. [31:33] Kung pwede pong at the very least $500,000 yung pong pinag-uusapan po nating ceiling po [31:42] nung pwede pong makapag-benefit doon sa income tax exemption, mas maigi po. [31:49] So as we go towards the debate doon po sa Ways and Means Committee, [31:54] tignan po natin kung ano yung pinaka-akma na income bracket para po dito. [32:02] Kasi halimbawa, yung pong pinag-uusapan po natin currently, I think around almost $30,000 lang po [32:09] yung pong pinag-uusapan po nating monthly income nung pong maapektuhan po nito. [32:15] Totoo naman ho, higit pa huron eh, yung pong mga kababayan po natin na mas magandang makapag-benepisyo po mula rito. [32:24] And to relate it to our current status of being an upper middle income economy, [32:30] yan ho dapat yung pong maaktual na benepisyo nung ating pong mga kababayan. [32:36] So we'd like to get the numbers in. [32:38] So ibig sabihin, pagka ho, malaking bilang din po yung makakapag-benepisyo doon sa furthering the ceiling to $500,000 [32:47] or to $450,000, mas maganda po yun. [32:50] But we'd like to get the numbers kung ilan po yung actual individuals na makakap-benepisyo po pag itinaas pa ho natin yung ceiling. [32:58] Well, ito po yung mga, ito po yung mga nagiging ongoing na discussion, public discourse, as a result of the experience that we had, [33:09] dala niya po ng kaguluhan na nangyari po sa sigalot na nangyari po sa Middle East. [33:16] Part of that is really our experience. [33:18] Kasi nakita po natin, hindi lang ho ang transportation sector ang nahihirapan, [33:24] pati na rin po yung emerging ng mga small businesses kung saan ito po yung mga hindi kalakihan ang kanilang capital. [33:34] So isa po sa magandang pag-usapan talaga, to make it sustainable, yung magiging response ng ating gobyerno [33:42] ay pag-usapan kung paano po natin matulungan itong mga small businesses, mga micro-entrepreneurs, [33:50] para tuloy-tuloy po yung kanilang pag-unla dahil hindi ho natin madideny na emerging industry po itong MSMEs. [34:02] At tumutulong po sila sa kabuuang ekonomiya ng ating bansa. [34:06] So I think that's one of the aspects that we think that the President also feels that it's time that the House of Representatives [34:16] and the Senate for that matter, the legislature to discuss on how we can sustainably support and help our sectors [34:25] that have greatly affected by the ongoing crisis. [34:28] Sinasabi ko pong ongoing dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa po nare-resolve ba ang supply ng gasolina, [34:35] dyan po dumadaan sa straight of Hormuz. [34:38] Thank you po. The next question will be fielded by Sir Haji. [34:44] Haji Camino, bagada. [34:45] Good morning po. To follow up lang po dun sa gunman, [34:51] although naka-move on na po dun sa Article 4 yung prosecution, [34:57] pero hindi po ba nito, kumbaga hindi po ba kayo nangihinayang na withdraw yung witness doon sa firearms [35:06] para lang po sana, kumbaga madugtungan pa yung issue doon sa kakayahan na humawak ng baril, [35:14] kakayahan po na mag-resort to violence, etc. [35:17] Tsaka ina-affirm po ba nun yung inyong stand patungkol doon sa threats against the President nga po? [35:26] Well, as far as we're concerned naman, sapat na sapat na eh. Tapos na tapos na po. [35:32] Yung presentation po namin na evidence on threats, no? [35:35] Dahil ang mahalaga naman po doon yung pagpapakita nung video of the actual threat of the Vice President [35:42] against the President and his family. [35:45] E di syempre, ano naman po ito eh. Panibagong balita naman po ito dun sa kanya pong remarks. [35:52] But to answer your question on the firearms, yung pong firearms ownership naman po ng pangalawang Pangulo [35:59] at ng kanya pong asawa will still be presented as far as I understand doon sa unexplained wealth article, no? [36:06] So, hindi pa naman po ito tapos na tapos. But, syempre, specific na yun po doon sa ownership of firearms [36:13] and whether or not this had been stated in the salin of the Vice President. [36:19] Yung pagpunta po niya dun sa rally, sa dahig nga po, tapos binitawan po niya yung salitang yun, [36:35] Sa palagay po ninyo, hindi ba siya makakaapekto sa Vice President? [36:42] Siyempre po, hindi siya umaaten nga po sa impeachment trial [36:47] tapos may mga ganon pong controversial na mga statements po ang Vice President. [36:54] Well, una, I think nagrarally lang siya ng support talaga eh. That's how we see it. [37:03] Like, nakikita po ng taong bayan base po doon sa mga ebedensya at mga testigo nagsasalita sa impeachment court [37:10] na raramdaman nila yung nagiging epekto nito sa kanyang planong maging presidente in 2028 [37:17] at public knowledge naman po ang pag-announce nito ang kanyang plano in 2028. [37:22] I think that's how she rallies and keeps her support base, no? [37:26] Kaya nga na nakikita natin na itong ginagawa ng Vice President ay nagiging ano na siya, [37:35] nagiging kampanya na siya in a way, no? [37:40] Para ma-determine at saka ma-maintain niya yung sinasabi niyang suporta sa kanyang mga nakukuhang mga grupo, no? [37:48] Pangalawa, una, pangalawa din, kaya parati natin sinasabi na mas maganda, halimbawa, [37:55] na marinig din natin straight from the Vice President itong mga denial na ito. [38:00] Kung ano man yung mga allegasyon pinipresenta ng House Prosecution Panel, paniwanag mula sa kanya. [38:05] Pero ang naririnig natin at nakikita natin ay umiiwas siya sa impeachment trial pero dun siya pupunta sa kanyang comfort zone, no? [38:16] Kasi palagay namin, ako, this does not reflect again the position of the House Prosecution Panel, [38:23] ang ating palagay ay she is now working towards her ambition to become the next president. [38:30] Which, by the way, makikita naman ng taong bayan sa ating impeachment trial kung talagang worthy siya to be our next leader. [38:38] Considering that there are a lot of charges that she faced, no? [38:42] Questioning her conduct and her fitness to even continue serving as the second highest official in the land. [38:51] Last na lang po. [38:53] So, contrary, yung binabanggit ninyo na it cannot bury the trade nga po dun sa 612.5. [39:00] So, you think sinasadya po ng vicepresidente na magbitaw ng mga, well, let's say, controversial na mga sound bites or pahayag [39:10] para po mapagtaktan yung mga issue na pinag-uusapan po sa impeachment trial at ngayon nga po nasa confidential funds? [39:18] Well, hindi rin naman kasi inasmuch as what she states will generate news. [39:24] Ito po naman po malaking balita rin po itong mga revelations in the course of the Senate impeachment trial [39:30] Okay, katulad na sabi ko sa inyo, hindi na po ito House Justice Committee proceedings lang. [39:35] Hindi lang po ito press conference lang. [39:37] Kundi this is a Senate impeachment court with the right to present direct examination [39:43] and with the vice president's counsels with the right to cross, no? [39:49] So, ibig ko sabihin, pagka natapos pong lahat ng ito, eh dapat yung katotohanan na ho yung mag-emerge [39:55] from each and every trial date and each and every article. [39:59] So, we are not bothered that if that is her objective, we will let her be. [40:05] Pero I think we will be able to generate an entirely separate news, no? [40:12] Mula doon sa revelations po from the trial. [40:14] The next question will be coming from Ma'am Rosa Licos. [40:21] UNTV po. Good morning, sirs. [40:24] Kanina po nabanggit nga po ni Kong Terry na confirmed na may authorization ni PBBM [40:29] yun pong pag-submit ng BIR, ng tax records ni BP Duterte. [40:33] Can you walk us through lang po sa process? [40:35] Automatic nyo na po ba itong evidence? [40:37] And as early as now, copy-furnished na po ba kayo ng mga dokumentong ito, yung pong prosecution panel? [40:43] Ang understanding po namin as soon as it is submitted to the Senate impeachment court, [40:47] the court will receive copies and both parties, the prosecution and the defense, [40:53] will receive copies of all of the documents, not just the BRR documents, no? [41:01] So, when we get to unexplained wealth, siyempre, in the same manner that we had been deciding on yung presentation of witnesses, no? [41:10] So, it will be on a week-to-week, day-to-day basis, no? [41:14] So, kung nasapatan na kami doon po sa mga na-present ng mga witnesses documents previously, [41:20] we don't have to present everything else doon sa mga nakatabi pa pong mga witnesses. [41:25] Pero, at the moment, siyempre, because yung po unexplained wealth is still an open and alive article, [41:32] lahat po ng mga dokumento will remain relevant and will still be subject to yung pong pagsasampa po namin sa witness stand [41:41] ng pong mga relevant personalities. [41:45] Alright. Kung natanggap na po ng Senate impeachment court yung lahat ng pinasabinat na documents, [41:49] kailangan pa po bang magkaroon ng trial conference para sa marking ng mga ebidensya po na yun? [41:54] Malamang, may ganun pong request na pwede pong mangyari. [41:58] So, magkakaroon po ng, within the trial, nung pong marking of these particular pieces of evidence. [42:07] Because I'm quite sure, kahit yung defense would also want to be able to mark all of these documents. [42:12] Alright. Second issue ko na lang po. [42:15] Following po ng pag-file po ng ethics complaints ng civil society groups against one of the senator judges, [42:21] kay Senator Judge Pia Cayetano, ano po ang reaction dito ng prosecution panel po? [42:26] Is this a welcome development for you in relation with dun po sa spliced video posted po over her social media page? [42:35] Well, balaya naman po ating bansa, demokratiko naman po ating bansa, [42:39] para ihahin ang bawat sentimento ng ating taong bayan. [42:43] Ito'y nagpapatunay lamang at reflection ito na pagdating po sa impeachment trial na ito, [42:50] ang taong bayan ay nanunood, nagmamasig, nakikinig, [42:53] hindi lang po sa loob ng impeachment court, pati na rin po sa labas. [42:57] So, sineset po nila yung standard nung ating mga senator judges na ayun dun po sa mga lumalabas [43:07] ng mga latest survey wherein 70 plus percent ng ating mga kababayan [43:12] ang nagsasabing gusto nila na magdesisyon ang korte, [43:16] ang bawat senator judges, base po sa ebidensyang maipapresenta ng bawat panig. [43:22] So, yun po yung reflection nung meron pong pagkadismaya o disappointment ng ating taong bayan [43:30] dahil nga inaasahan nila na bilang mga senator judges ay magbabasi po ang kanilang disisyon [43:38] doon po sa mga ebidensyang maipapresenta. [43:41] So, this is just a reflection of the recent surveys that came out [43:46] that most of our kababayans expecting the senator judges to decide and approach this case [43:54] based on the merits of the evidence and the testimonies of the witnesses of both the panels [44:00] would present before the impeachment court. [44:02] Pero sa inyo po ba ay enough na po yun dun po sa ginawa ng senator judge? [44:11] Satisfied na po kayo dun na meron pong nag-file ng ethics complaint? [44:15] Hindi ho ba gagawa po ng susunod na hakbang ang prosecution panel regarding po dito sa actuation po na ito? [44:23] It's not even the question of being satisfied. It's the question of how the public maintains and respects the integrity of the impeachment court [44:33] by making sure that all sitting senator judges in the court would display a certain degree at the very least of impartiality [44:44] that is also compliant with the Senate rules on impeachment [44:51] na lahat po ng mga senador should also maintain their impartiality [44:55] and to open to all evidences that would be presented by both panels. [45:01] And last follow up na lang po on the issue. Kasi po si yung Senate impeachment court spokesperson po, [45:08] ang nabanggit niya po, hindi po ma-action na ng Senate impeachment court kung wala naman pong manifestation [45:13] from either party regarding po dito sa issue nga po na ito na spliced video. [45:20] Well, we will, again, this is an ongoing discussion and we still haven't reached the decision. [45:27] The House prosecution panel hasn't reached the final decision in relation to this specific concern. [45:34] Thank you. Thank you. The next question will be from Sir Lance. [45:38] Hello po. Good morning. One clarification lang po kay Kong Terry. [45:44] Sabi niyo po kasi ganyan nagbigay na po yung approval ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas for the BIR documents. [45:49] Clarification lang, sir. If you just know, may written authority po ba yung presidente mismo to the BIR? [45:56] Kasi as I understand, tama po ba, correct me if I'm wrong, the BIR commissioner can just respect the subtina [46:02] and actually submit the documents to the court. So, did he actually seek a written authority from the president? [46:09] To be clear, yung pong BIR commissioner will have to get the approval from the president. [46:16] So, I'm not quite certain whether it's an oral approval or a written approval. [46:22] Pero, better to ask the BIR commissioner. But as far as we know, because they had complied and submitted the tax documents, [46:31] nakuha po nila yung approval from the president. [46:33] So, I'm quite certain meron po yung written approval from the president himself. [46:38] Okay, sir. So, as to the details kung kailan niya po ito nakuha ang approval na ito, hindi pa po alam ito ng prosecution sa ngayon? [46:45] I think better po na yung BIR kasi sila naman yung nag-comply with the subtina itself. [46:50] Okay po. Thank you, sir. [46:51] We recognize Ma'am Vivian Bula. [46:56] Follow up lang po dun sa procedure ng disclosure nitong mga isinabpina ng mga documents. [47:04] Kasi dun sa ruling ni presiding officer, sinabi niya na, [47:08] the issuance of a subpoena is merely a preliminary procedural step and does not by itself authorize the disclosure, [47:14] inspection or admission of the requested tax records into evidence. [47:18] If you can walk us through lang po kung ano na yung magiging procedure kung paano po ito madidisclose about it. [47:26] Well, again, siyempre ultimately yung po nga prosecution will have to submit it in evidence, no? [47:33] When we get to unexplained wealth, no? [47:35] So, siyempre, I'm quite certain the defense will try to object to the submission of these documents, [47:42] BIR, MLC, bank records, in evidence, no? [47:47] So, the presiding officer or the court will have to decide on the day that it will be submitted in evidence [47:57] on whether or not ipapasok or papapasukin yung pong mga ebidensya po na ito. [48:03] So, ultimately, yun po yung during the testimony proper ng mga relevant personalities. [48:09] Pero, siyempre, magkakaroon din po kasi ng offer of evidence sa dulo. [48:13] So, dun, sa dulo po yun ay sigurado po kami the defense will, of course, try to object to it also. [48:22] So, sa dulo-dulo po yung pong impeachment court yung pong magpapasya. [48:28] I think we have high optimism on all of it, lalo tigit. [48:32] Nagpaliwanag naman po eh, yung pong Senate impeachment court as to why these documents are being subpinad. [48:39] Sinabi ho nila, there is no basis to state confidentiality on BIR and AMLC documents. [48:47] And on the bank records, very clear naman po na exception po ito to the bank security law. [48:52] So, I'm quite certain there is no reason for the Senate impeachment court to actually object to the admission of all of these evidence during the course of the trial. [49:02] And if you would have info lang din po on how soon can the prosecution get copies of it? [49:07] Kasi parang may announcement din in the past, di ba, si presiding officer na ipaprocess muna ng Senate impeachment court? [49:15] Kung may mga maselang impormasyon na hindi dapat maibaba. [49:19] Ang understanding ko po, today and in the next couple of days, the court itself will look into the documents that have been submitted. [49:27] But as soon as it is available, it will be given to the prosecution. [49:32] So, antayin lang po namin. [49:34] Darating naman po yung araw na yun na makikita po namin yung mga dokumento themselves. [49:38] Alright. Makayipong salamat. [49:41] Do we have other questions? [49:45] Alright. [49:46] Kayo na lang siya ma'am. [49:50] May hands ang Malacanang dito o especially ang Pangulo dito sa impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. [50:11] Tingin ko wala naman ho. [50:13] Dahil ministerial request naman po ito eh, mula po sa Pangulo. [50:17] So, ibig sabihin, irrespective of whoever it is, so whether it is any other impeachable official, I think the President will still give his consent towards the opening of the BIR documents. [50:34] It will further the cause of accountability and further the cause of justice. [50:39] So, tingin ko wala po nga dahilan para sabihin na meron po kamay ang atin pong Pangulo sa bagay po na ito. [50:46] Ako para po sa akin, it does not matter kung sino po yung nag-request nito at matters is nandyan po yung mga ebedensya. [50:53] Kasi kung tunay po na maayos ang paggamit ng pondo na ito, ba't kung ba't humatatakot yung kabilang panig? [51:02] Kung ang kanila pong posisyon ay wala po silang nilabag na batas o polisiya at wala dapat silang pananagutan, eh dapat nga po mas i-welcome nila itong ganitong paraan. [51:16] Kasi dito po mabubuksan yung tunay na nangyari at kung talagang posisyon nila is wala silang ginawang labag sa batas, ay hindi po sila matatakot dito. [51:25] So, naalala po ninyo nung Justice Committee hearing, Kongri doon, you were the one who said yung paglabas nga po nung 2nd ND, Notice of Disallowance, 375, pinababalik in addition pa dun sa winfinality na 72.3. [51:58] Doon yung po sinabi na nakikita po dito lalo, pinalalakas yung 2nd ND, yung inyong claim nga, nung may pattern of a misuse ng confidential funds that will rise to a level of a betrayal of public trust dito laman kay VP Sarah. [52:13] Gano po kalakas itong mga iuupo niyong testigo, yung mga findings nila sa susunod na linggo? [52:18] Malakas po yun dahil it will be the COEICFAO once again who will state na ano po yung mga detalye nito pong mga adverse findings, nito pong confidential funds use ng ating pong pangalang Pangulo. [52:36] At bakit umabot na 448 billion na po yung ipinapasoli? [52:41] Kung saan yung pong pauna ay winfinality at the level of the COEIN Bank. [52:46] At ito po, yung ND, unless appealed, will be also immediately implementable against the Vice President. [52:57] So, ano po yan, the COEA auditors there will detail how the funds had been used. [53:05] At very clear naman po yung documentation, confidential funds were used for non-confidential expenses like leadership training. [53:16] So, doon pa lang po, tingin ko mabigat na bagay na po ito. [53:20] Yung safe house, rental ng safe house. [53:22] Hindi yan, kasama din po yung iba pang mga detalye na yun. [53:25] So, at again, yung mga Mary Grace Piatos, Milky Sikuya, at iba pa. [53:31] Makikilala na natin sila, baka makilala natin sila. [53:34] Sir, may update kayo kung nakapag-file ng appeal ang BC, yung VP ka. [53:39] Nakapag-file ba ng, may balita ba kayo kung na-appeal na po nila ito? [53:43] For the second ND, wala pa kami balita kung na-appeal po nila. [53:48] But again, the total of what COEA is asking from the Vice President is again, [53:53] and 448 million po yung pinag-uusapan na po natin. [54:00] Alright. [54:01] So, that's it for our press conference for this morning. [54:05] Makayi po salamat to our honorable representatives, [54:09] Kong Tebe Widon and Kong Zia Alonto. [54:12] And makayi po salamat din sa ating members of the media. [54:16] Thank you and good morning. [54:17] Thank you.