A ₱6-million property of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, has surfaced in official Registry of Deeds records but was not declared in the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), according to evidence presented before the Senate impeachment court.
The 379-square-meter property in Matina, Davao City, acquired on July 2, 2024 for ₱6 million and registered in Carpio’s name, was established through official land records presented through Davao City Register of Deeds IV Kathy Florence Baldonado.
House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said the records raise a direct question about the completeness and truthfulness of Duterte’s sworn declaration of wealth.
“₱6 million. 379 square meters. Binili noong 2024 habang Vice President na si Sara. Nasa official records ng gobyerno—pero wala sa kanyang SALN. Bakit?” Alonto Adiong said.
Alonto Adiong stressed that the SALN is not an ordinary disclosure form.
“Ang SALN ay affirmation of wealth under oath. Kapag pinirmahan mo iyan, nanunumpa kang kumpleto at tapat ang iyong financial declaration. Kaya kapag may property sa official government records pero wala sa sworn SALN, seryosong usapin iyan ng truthfulness and accountability,”
he said.
He rejected any suggestion that registration in Carpio’s name automatically removes the property from the disclosure issue.
“Hindi magic eraser ang pangalan ng asawa. Saklaw ng SALN disclosure requirements ang spouse. Hindi puwedeng sabihing, ‘Kay Mans iyan, kaya hindi kailangang ideklara,” Alonto Adiong said.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution would ask the Senate to examine the official property records alongside Duterte’s sworn declarations.
“Government record versus sworn government declaration. May titulo. May ₱6-million property. May acquisition date. May SALN. May oath. Hindi puwedeng dalawa ang katotohanan,” he said.
He said if the evidence establishes that the property was legally required to be disclosed but was omitted, the discrepancy could become relevant to the SALN requirements under R.A. 6713, the constitutional requirement for a declaration under oath of assets, liabilities and net worth, and the allegations of constitutional accountability being tried under Article II.
He said any separate criminal allegation, including perjury, would still require proof of its statutory elements, including the requisite knowledge and intent.
Alonto Adiong said: “Hindi lang ₱6 million ang issue. The bigger issue is the oath. Kung required mong ideklara, alam mong mayroon, pero hindi mo isinama sa sworn SALN—iyan ang kailangang ipaliwanag sa Senado at sa sambayanang Pilipino.”
“May property. May titulo. May government record. Wala sa SALN. At ang SALN ay pinirmahan under oath. VP Sara must explain the discrepancy,” Alonto Adiong said.
metrosundaily
