Senator-judge Padilla probes auditor's past ties as Diokno backs witness in impeachment
During Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Senator-judge Robin Padilla questioned auditor Alexander Cabrera about his former firm’s link to the MFT Group, while prosecutor Chel Diokno reiterated full confidence in the witness.
In the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-judge Robin Padilla interrogated financial forensic analyst Alexander Cabrera about his prior role as chairman of Isla Lipana & Co., the independent auditor for the MFT Group of Companies. Padilla highlighted that the MFT Group is under criminal complaints and a cease-and-desist order from the Securities and Exchange Commission for alleged OFW victimisation and P5 billion in unpaid checks.
Prosecutor Chel Diokno clarified that Cabrera is not a party to those specific cases and affirmed his complete trust in the witness’s credibility. Cabrera confirmed his tenure at Isla Lipana ended before one outlet allegations arose and noted the firm’s 104-year history had never encountered such issues. Padilla also urged the Senate not to expedite the proceedings, emphasizing the importance of the 32 million votes at stake. Finally, he verified that Cabrera had met former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo in December 2025.
Why it matters
The exchange tests the credibility of a key witness in a high-profile impeachment, affecting public trust in the process.
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