VP ON TRIAL RECAP: Subpoena for VP Duterte financial records sought — ANC

[0:00] House prosecutors hope President Marcos Jr. will authorize the release of the vice president's tax records as evidence in one of the impeachment complaints against her. [0:12] The panel is also getting ready to present its last witness in the grave threats case against Duterte. [0:22] Vivian Guglia reports. [0:23] National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag is ready to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Tuesday, according to counsel for the House Prosecution, Attorney Lorna Kapunan. [0:37] She says the NBI chief will skip a regional summit he was supposed to attend in Bangkok, Thailand on the same day. [0:44] Members of the prosecution team believe Matibag's testimony is essential in completing the narrative on the NBI's investigation into Duterte's alleged grave threats against the president, the first lady, and the House Speaker. [0:58] The NBI previously told a House panel that it was following leads on the individual Duterte spoke with supposedly to kill the officials. [1:06] The testimony of Director Matibag will complete the whole narrative. [1:12] At yung statement ni Attorney Lotok that said, from the Cybercrime Division, that this was referred to another division of the NBI. [1:22] So, I think it's reasonable to assume that the story, yung buong story, malalaman nyo sa Tuesday. [1:31] Meron bang continuing investigation? Kanya essential po yung testimony of Director Matibag. [1:42] Matibag is the prosecution's last of three witnesses on the grave threats article after it withdrew the other witnesses, citing lack of necessity and redundancy of their possible testimonies. [1:53] House Impeachment Prosecutor Representative Joel Chua says the prosecution also has the option to waive the presentation of an impeachment article against Duterte [2:01] if it will unnecessarily prolong the trial and evidence on other articles are solid. [2:07] But he clarifies that at the moment, the prosecution's position is to present all four articles. [2:12] House prosecutors are also hoping President Marcos will authorize the release of Vice President Duterte's tax records. [2:19] The palace earlier said the president would study the matter, but so far, no request has reached his office. [2:25] Well, I hope that the president will do that so that we could settle everything. [2:30] But of course, you know, we're not in contact with the executive. [2:35] We've made our sentiments known to the executive. [2:40] We've stated in several interviews at least that that would be the easiest route. [2:48] But in any case, like in the discourse yesterday, in the statements made by Attorney Chell Diocno yesterday, [2:59] in appealing to the Senate impeachment court, he said that in Renato Corona's case, [3:07] well, there were deliberations already. [3:10] And in fact, our senator judges, who are currently senator judges now, [3:17] Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, said that initial deposits are in fact important [3:25] and should be included as opening documents for the impeachment case. [3:31] So I hope that they will recall their actions in the former impeachment case. [3:36] Former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Hinares also says the president has the final say. [3:42] She adds the law must still be followed before Duterte's financial records can be disclosed. [3:48] Hinares had testified during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, [3:53] where she first sought the approval of then-President Noinoy Aquino before releasing Corona's tax records. [3:58] Maski ng impeachment proceeding yan ho, I agree na dapat sumunod ho tayo sa mga batas. [4:07] Among them is the Constitution and one of them is due process. [4:12] So, and the rules are, hindi mag-prepresent ho kayo ng ebidensya na kailangan relevant ho sa pinag-uusapan. [4:21] I understand that everyone wants to know the truth, but first, you also have to protect everyone's right. [4:32] So, even the criminals have their rights, right? [4:38] So, you know, iwaway ho ngayon nun nun Senate kung first relevant pa yun yung hinihingi nyo, [4:46] at kung relevant yan, siguro iso sopina ho niya. [4:50] The Senate Impeachment Court is set to decide on Monday the bid to unseal the Vice President's tax and bank records. [4:57] Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson called out irrelevant manifestations in the impeachment trial [5:02] after the first part of the trial on Wednesday was spent commenting on the NBI's announcement [5:07] of approbing to alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. [5:13] Vivian Gulia, ABS-CBN News. [5:16] The Philippine government will begin distributing additional cash aid for low-income Filipinos [5:23] as the country braces for a new round of price hikes due to fresh tensions in the Middle East. [5:30] Michael Delizzo reports. [5:31] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced the expansion of the administration's unified package [5:39] for livelihoods, industry, food and transport or uplift program by providing additional financial support [5:45] to millions of low-income Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East. [5:52] The Uplift Program targets 7.5 million households. [6:13] They are divided into three groups. [6:16] Group 1 consists of 3.5 million households in the Department of Social Welfare and Development [6:21] or DSWD's 4Ps and Walang Gutong Program database. [6:26] They will receive P2,000 per household as a one-time grant. [6:31] Beneficiaries of the Walang Gutong Program will receive their assistance through manual payouts [6:35] which will coincide with their food redemption schedule. [6:38] Inigyan natin sila ng tigda-dalawang libo, it takes into account the moving inflation numbers. [6:44] From negative, yung purchasing power magiging positive P270 pesos. [6:49] Ibig sabihin napalitan natin. [6:51] So, theoretically, walang magugutob. [6:56] Hindi sila mababawasan yung purchasing power nila kasi government risk for this. [7:01] Group 2 consists of 2.5 million poor and near-poor households [7:05] that fall within 25 percent above the poverty threshold [7:09] as identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority [7:11] through its 2024 community-based monitoring system. [7:15] They are not included in the DSWD's 4Ps and Walang Gutong Program. [7:19] Group 2 will receive P2,000 per household every month from July until December. [7:25] For the succeeding five months, however, [7:27] payouts will be made digitally through their chosen digital bank or e-wallet. [7:31] Group 3 consists of 1.5 million low-income workers [7:35] with a monthly salary credit in a social security system of not more than 20,000 pesos. [7:42] They will also receive 2,000 pesos per household every month until December. [7:46] If there are multiple SSS members in a household, [7:49] only the oldest member will receive the assistance. [7:52] The financial assistance will be automatically credited [7:54] to their enrolled SSS disbursement accounts. [7:57] Group 2 and Group 3 are technically part of the middle income already. [8:03] Ibig sabihin, hindi sila poor, pero nasa lower bracket sila [8:06] or nasa lower category of the middle class, so to speak. [8:12] The distribution of financial assistance will begin on Monday. [8:16] In total, Groups 2 and 3 will each receive P12,000 pesos. [8:20] With this intervention, mapipigilan natin yung mga mahihirap [8:24] na lalong lumalim sa kahirapan at yung mga near poor na tinatawag natin, [8:29] yung nakalabas na sila, lower middle class ngayon, if I may use it, [8:33] delikado kasi na pag wala tayong ginawa, isang ganitong shock. [8:36] Ito ngayon sinasabi nila, one sickness away, one calamity away, [8:40] one death away from spiraling back to poverty. [8:43] The government has allocated 12.375 billion pesos for the program. [8:51] These beneficiaries, President Marcos has signed an executive order [8:54] extending the seven-year period for qualified beneficiaries under specific conditions. [9:00] Under EO120, qualified beneficiaries whose eligibility would cease [9:04] after completing seven years may continue to receive assistance, [9:08] provided that they remain classified under the DSWD's Social Welfare and Development Indicator, [9:14] or SWDI tool. [9:16] Michael Delizzo, ABS-CBN News.