Representatives of 14 banking and insurance companies are present and ready to testify on Tuesday in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial as House prosecutors move to establish financial records tied to the unexplained wealth charge against her.

Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero confirmed their attendance at the start of Day 34 of the trial.

“All 15 (representatives of) banking and insurance companies are here with us,” Escudero said.

He clarified that a 16th official on the court’s list was from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon then asked the court to allow the prosecution and defense to confer with the subpoenaed representatives before their expected testimony.

“If they are in attendance, it is the prosecution’s request for a conference of the parties to be undertaken with them so that we can be able to obtain preliminary information relating to their identities, their type of work, and among related matters, Your Honor,” Ridon said.

The defense agreed but asked that the conference be conducted under court supervision, a request Escudero granted.

“The clerk of court is directed to send the representative of the court to oversee the parties’ conference with the witnesses from the banks and insurance companies,” Escudero said.

The conference was allowed to proceed while the defense continued its cross-examination of Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura.

The impeachment court earlier subpoenaed representatives of the Land Bank of the Philippines, Asia United Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank, and BDO Unibank.

Also subpoenaed were representatives of Prudential Life, Allianz, Manufacturers Life, FWD Life, BPI-AIA Life, BDO Securities, and BDO Life.

The financial institution representatives were summoned to testify and bring records sought by the prosecution as part of its evidence under Article II of the impeachment case, which accuses Duterte of unexplained wealth and discrepancies in her financial declarations. (PNA)