Cabrera tells Padilla: We can do a good job even if we’re in a hurry

MANILA, Philippines — Financial forensic analyst Atty. Alexander Cabrera has assured Senator-judge Robinhood “Robin” Padilla that he can come up with a competent report even in a limited amount of time, amid questions on why it seems that the report on Vice President Sara Duterte’s finances was made hastily.

During the latter part of Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, Padilla asked Cabrera whether it was proper to do a financial analysis of Duterte’s financial transactions in a short amount of time when he was dealing with a high-ranking official elected by over 30 million Filipinos.

Cabrera, the prosecution’s final witness for Article II or the allegations that Duterte has unexplained wealth, said last Friday Duterte failed to declare P817,874,867 in her net worth for her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2022 to 2025.

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“Madalas kong marinig sinasabi ninyo, minadali kayo, parang wala kayong masyadong time. Sir, pinag-uusapan po natin ang pag-iimpeach sa ibinoto ng tao, ng 30 million votes. Tama po bang sabihin natin na wala kayong time, na hindi kayo masyadong binigyan ng oras at minadali ito?” Padilla asked. “‘Yon po ba, sa palagay niyo po ba, fair po ba ‘yon?”

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(I often hear from you that you were rushed, that you did not have enough time. Sir, we are talking about impeaching a person voted by the people, with 30 million votes. Is it correct for you to say that you did not have the time, that you were not given time and you rushed this? Do you think this is fair?)

READ: Analyst: VP Duterte declared only 20% of properties ‘on average’

“So ako po’y nagtrabaho po sa isang audit firm at lahat po ng trabaho po doon ay minamadali. Ang mga kliyente po namin lahat po ‘Russian,’ so mabilisan po, lagi pong rush ang trabaho […] Kailangan pong habulin ang mga deadline. Hindi po ibig sabihin na minadali ay hindi na po namin ginawa nang mabuti ang trabaho po namin. Ginawa po namin nang mabuti ang trabaho po namin,” Cabrera replied.

(I used to work for an audit firm and all our work there is being rushed. We joke that our clients are Russian, because all our jobs are rushed […] We have to go after our deadline but that doesn’t mean we are not doing our jobs well. We were able to do our jobs well.)

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Padilla then questioned why Cabrera seemed to change his tone, as he initially said it was rushed, but eventually said the report was done properly. However, Cabrera noted that both things can be true at the same time.

“So, naiba na po ngayon, ginawa niyo na nang mabuti, iba na po, iba na po—minadali o ginawa niyo nang mabuti?” Padilla asked again.

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(So you are changing your tone now; you are now saying you did your job well, it’s different—did you rush it, or did it well?)

READ: From Donki to Nike: Analyst says VP had ‘unusual’ purchases in 2025

“Hindi po siya inconsistent, kahit po kayo’y nagmamadali, pwede niyo pong gawing mabuti po ang inyong trabaho. Kahit po mabagal, pwede niyo pa rin pong gawing mabuti ang trabaho. Ang mahalaga po doon ay dedicated po kayo sa ginagawa po ninyo,” Cabrera added.

(It is not inconsistent; even if we rushed things, you can still do a good job. Even if you do it slowly, you can do your job well also. The important thing is that you are dedicated in what you do.)

To end, Padilla reiterated that crafting such reports should be done carefully as the impeachment trial may result in the removal from office of an official with a huge mandate.

“Kasi kanina sa argumento po ninyo ni Senator Pia Cayetano na isa ring abogado, ilang beses po niyang inulit na sa usaping ito, mahirap ‘yong nag-aassume lang tayo. Napakahalaga po no’n kasi alam niyo, ito po’y hindi basta-basta kaso. Ito po ay impeachment po ito,” Padilla said.

(Because when you raised your argument before Senator Pia Cayetano, who is also a lawyer, you have mentioned this several times that you assumed. That’s not good because we are doing a very important task with this case, this is an impeachment trial.)

“Tayo po ay nagtatanggal ng isang opisyal na binoto ng taumbayan. ’Yon lamang po ang aking gusto ipaalala sa inyo sir, na hindi po katanggap-tanggap ‘yong mga salitang minadali, ’yong wala nang oras, assumption,” he added.

(We will be removing an official voted by the people. That’s what I want to remind you sir: it is not acceptable to use the words ‘rushed’, that you had ‘no time’, and ‘assumption.’)

Cabrera testified before the Senate Impeachment Court, discussing the report he provided to the prosecution panel about Duterte’s financial transactions.

At one point, Cabrera said that Duterte had an “unusual banking behavior” in 2025 which included a meal at Ginza Inakaya Tokyo in Japan worth P200,007.29 with a transaction date of March 19, 2025; two transactions on Dec. 27, 2025 with the Nike store at a Davao City mall worth P93,750.00 and P205,392.00; and another Nike store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, worth P256,882.50.

Cabrera did not mention Duterte’s other unusual banking activities, but Table 25 showed that she had gone shopping at two MEGA Don Quijote outlets in Japan.

Don Quijote is a discount store chain that started in Japan, offering a variety of items—from Japanese-made toiletries, toys, gadgets, souvenirs, and even food products.

Two transactions referred to a Don Quijote in Shibuya, one of the main business and entertainment hotspots in Tokyo—with one worth P62,900.95 and the other being P65,877.64.

Both transactions occurred on Dec. 8, 2025.

READ: Analyst: VP Duterte didn’t declare P207-M cash, total assets reach P817M

The other Don Quijote outlet that Duterte transacted with is in Aichi prefecture, specifically in Naka-ward. The transaction on July 20, 2025 was worth P111,109.24

The total for all of Duterte’s unusual banking behavior listed in the exhibit was at P239,887.83.

READ: Flores confirms prosec manifested dropping bribery article vs VP Duterte

The impeachment court, meanwhile, has wrapped up discussions on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, or allegations that Duterte has unexplained wealth and failed to properly disclose these in her SALN. Last Friday, public prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno manifested that Cabrera will be the prosecution’s final witness.

Article II is also the last article that the prosecution will present, as the panel has decided to drop Article III, or the allegations that Duterte bribed Department of Education officials.

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With Article III being dropped, only three articles remain—Article II; Article I, or the confidential fund misuse allegations within Duterte’s office; and Article IV or her supposed grave threats against ranking officials. /cb