THE House Committee on Justice turned to the paper trail as it examined Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), zeroing in on a striking pattern: she repeatedly declared no cash on hand or bank deposits in her most recent filings even as her net worth steadily increased.
During the panel’s second impeachment hearing on determining probable cause, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, asked the Ombudsman to confirm Duterte’s declared net worth and reported cash across her SALNs—from her tenure as vice mayor (2007-2010), mayor (2010-2013 and 2016-2022), to her current term as vice president (2022-2024).
Ombudsman Central Records Division OIC Karen Batu told the panel that Duterte’s declared net worth during her tenure as vice mayor was as follows:
2007: P7.25 million
2008: P18.49 million
2009: P18.28 million
2010: P16.24 million
2011: P14.27 million
2012: P22.12 million
Chua noted that Duterte declared roughly P2 million in cash on hand and bank deposits from 2007 to 2009, which rose to P3.66 million in 2010 and P4.32 million by 2012.
When Duterte returned as Davao City mayor in 2016, her net worth stood at P34.89 million. Within a year, it increased by about P10 million to P44.83 million, including P6.37 million in cash on hand.
Batu also confirmed the declared net worth of Duterte and her husband for the following years:
2018: P49.69 million
2019: P55.61 million
2020: P56.58 million
2021: P65.31 million
2022: P71.06 million
2023: P77.51 million
2024: P88.51 million
Committee members also stressed that while Duterte’s net worth rose by nearly 60% from 2019 to 2024, both she and her husband no longer carried entries of cash on hand or bank deposits during the six-year period.
“Sa madaling salita, ‘yung kanya pong cash na dineclare was only from 2007 up to 2018. Tama po ba?” Chua asked.
“Based on our received copies of the SALN, Your Honor, ‘yun pong lumalabas na years na mayroon po siyang declared cash on hand and bank deposits,” Batu said.
“At nung 2019 up to 2024, kahit singko po, wala po siyang dineklara na cash at tsaka cash on hand. Tama po ba?” Chua asked.
“Based on the submitted SALNs, Your Honor, wala pong nakalagay na cash on hand or bank deposits,” Batu confirmed.
After the Office of the Ombudsman affirmed that Duterte declared no cash on hand or bank deposits despite a significant increase in her net worth, Chua reacted with a remark of apparent disbelief: “E di wow.”
Committee members believe the discrepancy in Duterte’s SALNs may indicate a pattern of underdeclaration, raising questions about her reported wealth—an issue central to determining probable cause for impeachment based on allegations of unexplained and ill-gotten wealth.
“Para sa akin po, ang biglaan at tuloy-tuloy na pagkawala ng deklarasyon ng liquid assets… sa kabila ng dati mayroon naman na mga halaga ng mga cash on hand/cash in bank, ay nagdudulot ng pagdududa sa kawastuhan at kabuuan ng subsequent SALNs ni VP Sara,” ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said.
The Ombudsman furnished the justice committee with official copies of Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2024. Overall, the panel noted an increase of P53.6 million over the eight-year period from 2016 to 2024.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), along with former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, also attended the hearing to provide financial, tax, and corporate records of Duterte and her husband for cross-checking against her SALNs.
