Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator-judge Pia Cayetano questioned the scrutiny of lawyer Mans Carpio’s shopping transactions in Japan during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, Oct. 12, while Senator Robin Padilla raised concerns about due process in proceedings involving an official elected by more than 32 million voters.
During the questioning of prosecution witness Alexander Cabrera, Cayetano challenged the inclusion of Carpio’s purchases at a discount store and a Nike outlet in Japan in a forensic report examining financial transactions involving Duterte and her husband.
“Are we establishing that mahilig sa sports gear si Carpio?” Cayetano asked, questioning what suspicious banking behavior the transactions were supposed to demonstrate.
She cited her experience as a former national volleyball player, recalling how supporters helped finance the Philippine team’s participation in an Asian volleyball competition in Japan in 1983.
“So if somebody is a sports supporter, it is possible,” she said, suggesting that substantial purchases of sports equipment could have legitimate explanations.
The senator also questioned the assumptions behind Cabrera’s forensic report, which identified around ₱817.8 million in alleged unexplained wealth involving Duterte and Carpio from 2022 to 2025.
Cayetano pressed Cabrera on whether the report clearly distinguished findings based on financial records from calculations involving assumptions about business ownership and corporate funds.
“I would think that it’s prudent … that you highlight there are certain assumptions that were made here that may alter some parts of this report,” she said.
Cayetano further questioned whether the report’s conclusions adequately reflected the limitations of the documents examined, particularly those not obtained directly from Duterte and Carpio.
“But isn’t that what you are supposed to present to us now? The whole truth and nothing but the truth,” Cayetano told the witness.
Cabrera defended his findings, maintaining that his forensic report was based on his professional judgment and examination of available financial and corporate documents.
Padilla, meanwhile, questioned Cabrera’s professional background and experience, including his previous association with an auditing firm involved in examining the MFT Group of Companies.
The senator pressed the witness on his qualifications as a forensic accountant and raised concerns about the need for fairness and due process before drawing conclusions in the impeachment case.
Padilla also referred to the more than 32 million votes Duterte obtained in the 2022 election as he discussed the significance of the proceedings.
Cabrera defended his credentials, citing his qualifications as a certified public accountant and lawyer and his decades of professional experience.
Duterte’s defense has challenged the report’s methodology and conclusions.
