House prosecution panel member Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said they have uncovered fresh evidence against impeachment respondent Vice President Sara Duterte just days before the scheduled pre-trial conference on June 18.

According to Ridon, this new piece of evidence have to do with one of the more damaging allegations against Duterte.

“Yung mga particular ebidensya po na ito, mayroong pong mga pag-aari ang Pangalawang Pangulo at ang kanya pong asawa at doon sa listahan po ng pag-aari ng particular na ahensya ng gobyerno pero hindi po ito nakatala sa kanya pong SALN (statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth) submissions sa kahit ano pong taon,” Ridon said over the weekend

(These particular pieces of evidence show that the Vice President and her husband have properties listed by a government agency, but these do not appear in her SALN submissions in any year.)

“So from 2007 to 2024 hindi po nakatala yun pong mga pag-aari po na ito (So from 2007 to 2024 these properties were not recorded)," he added.

"Ang evidence po na ito kasi hindi po ito nailatag doon sa House prosecution ng proceedings sa justice committee, ito po ay bagong-bago. So sa pre-trial po ipapasok,” Ridon pointed out.

(This evidence was not presented during the House Committee on Justice proceedings; it is completely new. So it will be introduced at the pre-trial.)

During the pre-trial conference, both the prosecution and defense will carry out the stipulation of facts, marking of evidence, and presentation of witnesses. This is done to prevent surprises during the trial proper, which begins on July 6.

Ridon's disclosure directly goes to the article of impeachment on alleged unexplained wealth, one of the four charges transmitted by the House to the Senate against Duterte.

The Vice President also faces articles involving alleged misuse of public funds, bribery and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

Ridon says there is no bar against presenting additional evidence before the close of pre-trial, provided that the evidence supports the articles of impeachment already before the Senate.

“Wala hong nagbabawal sa prosecution panel na maglatag ng bagong ebidensya up until pre-trial proceedings. Kung ito po ay magseserbisyo doon po sa pagpapatunay noong pong mga batayan ng articles of impeachment."

(Nothing prohibits the prosecution panel from presenting new evidence up until the pre-trial proceedings. As long as it serves to prove the basis of the articles of impeachment.)

The 11-strong House prosecution panel is expected to disclose the details of the new evidence in its pre-trial brief next week.

Ridon also clarified that both sides may still seek to present additional evidence after pre-trial if the Senate impeachment court allows it and if the evidence is material to the case.

“For as long as papayagan po ito ng Senate impeachment court at relevant and material po doon po sa mga gusto pong patunayan whether na prosecution at ang depensa,” he stressed.

(As long as the Senate impeachment court allows it and the evidence is relevant and material to what either the prosecution or defense wants to prove.)

Ridon credited fellow House prosecutor Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua for identifying the fresh evidence that could strengthen the prosecution’s case once the trial moves forward.

Ridon hailed Chua’s investigative instincts in pursuing material relevant to the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“Alam nyang maghanap ng kriminal (He knows how to look for criminals)," the party-list solon said.