THE inquiry into Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth must begin from her entry into government because the disputed accumulation did not necessarily start when she assumed the vice presidency in 2022.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said Tuesday the earlier records would show how Duterte’s assets developed across her years as a public official.
“Yung pagkakaroon ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman hindi naman ho nagsimula lang iyan noong panahon na siya ay naging Bise Presidente. Nagsimula pa iyan magmula nang magsimula siyang manungkulan bilang lingkod-bayan,” Tolosa stressed.
Duterte entered public office as Davao City vice mayor in 2007, later served as mayor and became vice president in June 2022.
The Senate Impeachment Court allowed the production of records from the earlier period to establish a financial baseline against which her wealth and transactions during the present term may be measured.
“So, kailangan ho nating tuntunan saan ho nagsimula ang pagkakaroon ng ganitong hindi maipaliwanag na yaman na nagpatuloy at patuloy ding tinago sa kanyang SALN hanggang umabot na sa panahon na siya ay naging Bise Presidente,” Tolosa explained.
Article II alleges that Duterte failed to provide a complete and truthful declaration of her wealth in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
“Sa buong period ho na nanungkulan siya bilang public official, hindi lang ho dito sa panahon kung kailan nagsimula na siyang maging Bise Presidente,” Tolosa noted.
The court limited the purpose of the earlier records to measuring Duterte’s financial position during her current incumbency rather than creating new impeachment charges for past conduct.
“Napakahalaga ho na tingnan dahil para sa amin, impeachable offense, hindi ho ito limitado doon lang sa period na naging impeachable officer na,” Tolosa maintained.
He said evidence from earlier years remains material when an alleged pattern continues into the term for which an impeachable officer is being held accountable.
“Mahalaga ring balikan ‘yung mga naging transaksyon ng Bise Presidente kahit noong panahon na hindi pa siya Bise Presidente dahil ito ay makakatulong na mag-establish nung tinatawag ho na financial baseline,” Tolosa added.
metrosundaily
