The prosecution maintains that Vice President Sara Duterte herself should explain Article 4, which covers grave threats, and the article on unexplained wealth, because she is the person seen in the video and the official who can answer questions about her own net worth declarations.
Prosecution Spokesperson Calls for Duterte's Testimony
Former Surigao del Norte Congressman Robert Ace Barbers, spokesperson and adviser for the House prosecution panel, stated in a television interview on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, that Duterte's own explanation would provide proper context to the recorded statements before the Senate impeachment court.
“I think ‘yung Article 4, ‘yung grave threats, kasi siya ang nasa video, siya ang nagsasalita. In fact, nag-reply lang siya doon sa tanong,” Barbers said.
“To give it a proper context, siya ay nag-reply doon sa sinasabing tanong na nangyari. So dapat, siguro, to give it a more complex context, dapat siya mismo mag-explain,” he added.
Unexplained Wealth Article Requires Duterte's Clarification
Regarding the unexplained wealth article, Barbers emphasized that Duterte should also testify because she knows why her net worth increased each year when declaring her Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
“Yung unexplained wealth, I believe dapat siguro siya rin mismo yan because siya nakakaalam kung ano ba yung reason bakit tumataas iyong net worth sa kada taon na nagde-declare ka ng iyong Statement of Assets and Liabilities,” he said.
Barbers noted that the prosecution has decided to summon Duterte, an option that was conveyed to the impeachment court through private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan.
