Malaya Business Insight

Former Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu were committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, on Monday afternoon.

The House prosecution panel on Monday said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is not only about protecting the public coffers but also ensuring public trust in government institutions by seeking accountability. “Kung ang ordinaryong Pilipino ay pinapanagot, bakit hindi ang pinakamakapangyarihang opisyal ng gobyerno?” lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, in her opening speech during the opening day of the trial.

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday slammed her impeachment, saying it was not the first time that members of the House of Representatives have attempted to remove her in a manner not compliant with the 1987 Constitution. Lead defense lawyer Shiela Sisom made the statement in her opening remark during the opening of the impeachment trial against Duterte.

The prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said it is not seeking the public’s support for the case that it will present before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court just yet. Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr., a legal spokesman for the prosecution, said what the prosecution wants is for the public to first listen to the evidence that will be presented so they can judge for themselves if the Vice President deserves to be removed from office or not.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was brought to the PNP General Hospital after complaining of chest pain, Maj. Gen. Robert Morico, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said Monday. “Senator Marcoleta complained of chest pain; is BP (blood pressure) is high, so we brought him to the hospital,” Morico told reporters in an interview. Morico said Marcoleta is due to undergo an electrocardiogram test (ECG).

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said they “never opposed” the opening of the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box containing her and her husband’s tax records. Defense spokesperson lawyer Michael Poa made the remarks in a press briefing before the 2 p.m. start of the impeachment trial in the Senate. “We never opposed the opening of the BIR box,” Poa said. “In fact, our comment says we are not averse to the pre-marking of the documents inside the box,” he also said.

Just like her accusers, the older brother of Vice President Sara Duterte also wants the truth to come out in the impeachment trial of his younger sister. “At the end of the day, political attacks may generate headlines, but only the truth can stand the test of scrutiny. We (Duterte camp) remain hopeful that this trial will not only settle the issues being raised but also expose the motivations behind them. Let the evidence speak. Let the facts prevail. Let the truth come out,” Davao City Rep.

The Senate Impeachment Court has elected Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as the presiding officer following deliberations in the plenary when the impeachment trial of the vice president opened on Monday afternoon. Sen. Panfilo Lacson moved to elect Escudero as presiding officer, which was opposed by Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano. After the matter was put into a vote, 12 senator-judges voted to name Escudero as presiding officer, while eight voted against.

Grab Philippines fully funded a one-month demand-boost campaign for select homegrown food merchants, helping local restaurants drive transactions without taking on the cost of consumer discounts as inflation kept utility bills and ingredient costs elevated. Rolled out from May 21 to June 20, the initiative helped local restaurants sustain customer demand at a time when inflation continued to put pressure on their businesses.

The attendance of Vice President Sara Duterte at her impeachment trial will depend on how the proceedings unfold, the defense team said Monday an hour before the trial started. Defense spokesperson lawyer Michael Poa made the remarks when he appeared before the media. “She has chosen to appear by counsels in consonance with the impeachment rules. Karapatan naman nya yun (It is within her rights),” Poa said.