Malacañang wants the Senate impeachment court to focus on establishing the truth rather than allowing political "drama" to overshadow proceedings as the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte moves to the presentation of evidence on her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said Filipinos expect the impeachment proceedings to remain focused on the issues instead of theatrics following the prosecution's completion of its presentation of evidence under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

"Ang inaasahan po natin ay walang drama, walang pagtatago ng katotohanan at walang pag-iwas sa totoong issue na kinakaharap dito sa impeachment trial (We expect no drama, no concealment of the truth, and no evasion of the real issues being tackled in the impeachment trial)," Castro said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday, July 16.

"Gusto lang naman din po ng lahat ng ating kababayan ay lumabas ang katotohanan at hindi ang drama sa loob ng Senado (What our countrymen want is for the truth to come out, not drama inside the Senate)," she added.

The prosecution earlier informed the impeachment court that it had completed presenting its witnesses and documentary evidence under Article IV, paving the way for the trial to proceed to allegations involving Duterte's confidential funds.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February on charges that include culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and the alleged misuse of confidential funds, allegations she has repeatedly denied.

Castro also challenged Duterte to demonstrate transparency by allowing access to her financial records after the defense opposed requests for bank, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) documents on constitutional grounds.

Responding to the defense's argument that impeachment should not be used to circumvent constitutional rights, Castro said the "magic word" in the proceedings should instead be "truth."

"'Truth.' Katotohanan, 'yan ang dapat na mapanatili sa mga pag-iimbestiga sa anumang kaso lalong-lalo na sa isang impeachment trial (Truth. That is what should be upheld in the investigation of any case, especially in an impeachment trial)," she said.

Castro said that if the Vice President truly had nothing to fear, she should prove it by allowing the disclosure of records sought by the prosecution.

"So, kung walang kinakatakutan, obligasyon naman niya sa taumbayan na ipakita ang katotohanan (If she has nothing to fear, then she has an obligation to the people to show the truth),” she said.

“Mas magandang ipakita niya na wala siyang pagkakasala at wala siyang itinatagong anumang isyu patungkol sa pondo ng bayan (It would be better to show that she committed no wrongdoing and is hiding nothing regarding public funds)," she added.

The prosecution has sought access to Duterte's bank, AMLC, and BIR records to support allegations involving confidential funds, while the defense has argued that compelling the production of such records would violate constitutional protections.

Meanwhile, Castro dismissed the defense's argument that President Marcos' previous statement expressing willingness to reconcile with the Duterte family showed that he did not consider the Vice President's alleged threats against him serious.

She said Marcos' statement merely reflected his desire to reconcile with anyone who disagreed with him politically and did not erase Duterte's alleged threat against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"So, kahit gustong makipag-reconcile ng Pangulo sa lahat ng maaaring hindi sumasang-ayon sa kaniya, hindi nabubura ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo, ni First Lady, at ni dating House Speaker ng Bise Presidente (Even if the President is willing to reconcile with everyone who disagrees with him, that does not erase the threat against the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker)," Castro said.

The alleged threat forms part of the Articles of Impeachment after Duterte publicly admitted last year that she had instructed someone to kill the three officials should an alleged plot against her succeed, although she has maintained that her remarks were taken out of context and were conditional.

Castro also said Malacañang has yet to receive any request requiring President Marcos to authorize the opening of a sealed BIR box being sought in the impeachment proceedings.

"So far wala pa po (So far, there is none)," she said when asked whether the President had been asked to grant authority to open the records.

She added that the Palace has not yet received any information indicating whether such a request would come from the prosecution, the Senate impeachment court, or another party involved in the proceedings.