Padilla objects to subpoena issuance in VP's impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Robinhood Padilla on Monday opposed the impeachment court’s decision to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial and tax records, stating that the same should be done to other impeachable officials. Padilla made the pronouncement after the Senate impeachment court, through Senator-Judge and Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero, granted subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial and tax records. In a manifestation, Padilla said the “standards” being applied in issuing a subpoena for Duterte’s financial and tax records should likewise be enforced upon all impeachable officials, regardless of their names or positions. READ: LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte This, he said, is to show the public that no official is being singled out. “If this is the standard we are setting, then let us all open up our bank records, let us all open them, to show the public that we are not playing favorites here,” said Padilla. The senator-judge also took the opportunity to call for support in passing into law the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. READ: Impeachment court grants subpoena for Duterte’s financial records “Because if this is the case, as if we are being watched and observed, it is not good for the people. Let us remember that we are equal before God and the law,” said Padilla. “And I ask you to put on record my objection to this ruling,” he added. It should be noted, however, that only the vice president is currently facing an impeachment trial among all impeachable government officials. Senator-judge Pia Cayetano, in a separate manifestation, meanwhile, said it would have been better for the court to only issue subpoenas on records from 2022 to 2026, instead of from 2007. “We could have considered starting at 2022, and if there’s more kung doon pa lang it already shows that unexplained from 22 to 2026, there may be no reason to go back and at least respect that part of the records,” said Cayetano. “…That’s our way of showing respect for the persons who are brought here to trial,” she added. However, Cayetano said she will submit to the ruling as one of the senator-judges. Concurrently, other senator-judges, specifically Alan Peter Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, and Loren Legarda, have all expressed their willingness to submit in writing their manifestations or objections to Escudero’s ruling. /cb