Palace on Sara Duterte's business ties: No one is above the law - GMA Network

Malacañang asserted Tuesday that no one is above the law, issuing the statement following testimonies from an official of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the business interests of Vice President Sara Duterte.

This developed after Gerardo del Rosario, director of the SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department, testified at Duterte's impeachment trial that the vice president remained on the Board of Directors of Metro City Chow Foods Corporation until 2025, well after she was elected to the post, despite a constitutional prohibition.

"May batas po. Maliwanag ang batas. So, kung ano po iyong nasa batas iyon lang dapat po ang sundin, iyon ang dapat na ipatupad at hindi po kinakailangan na ang isang tao ay maging above the law," Castro said in a press briefing.

(There is a law. The law is clear. So whatever is in the law, that should be followed, that should be what is implemented, so there is no need for one person to be above the law.)

"So, hindi po dapat pinapairal iyong salitang impunity. So, kung ano lang po iyong sa batas dapat tuparin," Castro said.

(So the word impunity should not be common. Whatever is in the law should be what is implemented.)

Also during the impeachment trial on Monday, Del Rosario testified on the corporate records of 18 firms which either the vice president or her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, allegedly owns or has business interests in.

Del Rosario continued his testimony on Tuesday, wherein he affirmed that ownership of shares is evidence of participation in a business.

Asked about Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo's question asking why Duterte was not legally advised about her business dealings, Castro declined to comment further.

"Hindi na po kami magkokomento diyan, si VP Sara naman ay malaki na at hindi na dapat binibigyan ng anumang advice, alam niya na po ang kanyang ginagawa," Castro said.

(We will not comment on that, VP Sara is grown and does not need advice, she knows what she is doing.)

Duterte’s defense indicated that the records presented by the SEC did not necessarily prove any wrongdoing, casting doubt on the veracity of the documents.

During its cross-examination, defense counsel Justin Nicol Gular asked about the unsigned and unsealed SEC audit summaries of Duterte’s businesses.

“And you confirm that both these summaries that your office supposedly prepared are also unsigned or walang perma po ng kahit sinuman? Tama po ba?” Gular asked the witness, SEC officer Gerardo del Rosario. (And you confirm that both these summaries that your office supposedly prepared are also unsigned and there is no signature from anyone.)

Del Rosario answered in the affirmative.

The defense counsel also asked the SEC witness if he could not confirm that Duterte received anything.

“You cannot confirm whether, based on the net income report, na may natanggap ang bise presidente diyan?” Gular del Rosario.

(You cannot confirm whether, based on the net income report, that the vice president received anything there?)

Del Rosario again answered in the affirmative. —VDV/NB, GMA News