Sara Duterte SALN: New Evidence of Hidden Properties
MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution is preparing to unveil new evidence of undisclosed personal properties owned by Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon revealed that these assets were missing from her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), adding fuel to the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
A Shadow Over the Vice Presidency
In an online interview with House reporters, Ridon emphasized that this new set of evidence carries nearly the same weight as the previously scrutinized bank accounts of the Duterte-Carpio couple. The revelation points to a pattern of non-disclosure that strikes at the heart of public trust.
“One of the basis for the unexplained wealth allegation is the non-disclosure of assets owned by our Vice President and her husband. So like the bank accounts, there are some properties that were not disclosed in her SALN over the course of all the years,” Ridon explained.
For many Filipinos, from the bustling streets of Metro Manila to the quiet rural barangays, the omission of assets is not a mere administrative oversight. Even those who look back fondly on the iron-fisted days of the previous administration must acknowledge that public office demands absolute transparency. It is a serious breach of the public's trust. The prosecution argues that the hidden properties, while valued in the millions rather than billions, are numerous and significant.
Lessons from the Corona Impeachment
Ridon drew a direct parallel to the 2012 impeachment of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Back then, 20 senators, including the presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile, found Corona guilty precisely for failing to disclose certain properties in his SALN. It is a sobering precedent that the prosecution intends to highlight.
“Aside from its value, I think the more important point would be its non-disclosure, non-statement in the SALNs of the Vice President. And to be clear, that was one of the basis for conviction of former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, that exact, specific, non-disclosure of assets,” Ridon added.
The fresh evidence was never presented during the House justice committee hearings. It will instead be formally disclosed during the pre-trial brief and conference, keeping the Senate Impeachment Court as the proper venue for such revelations. Ridon clarified that presenting new evidence is fully permitted, even well into the trial stage, provided the Senate deems it relevant to the articles of impeachment.
Soaring Net Worth and Suspicious Flows
The question of hidden wealth has long hovered over the Vice President. Ridon previously flagged a staggering spike in Duterte's declared net worth. From a modest P7.2 million in her 2007 SALN, her first year as a public official, her net worth ballooned to P88.51 million in 2024. That represents an eye-popping 1,120 percent increase.
Furthermore, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has already confirmed suspicious transactions linked to the couple. During an April 22 hearing, AMLC Executive Director Buenaventura confirmed P6.7 billion in total transactions from their bank accounts. This included P4.4 billion in inflows and P1.5 billion in outflows. When Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima tested 18 transactions from Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's affidavit against AMLC records, all 18 were confirmed to match.
As the impeachment trial looms, the nation watches closely. The pursuit of accountability remains a cornerstone of our democratic institutions, reminding those in power that no position is above the law.