THE presentation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) from 2007 up to 2025 is just part of the puzzle on her alleged unexplained wealth, a prosecution spokesman said Tuesday.
“Part pa lang ito ng puzzle na binubuo natin. Part pa lang ng kabuuang istorya ng unexplained wealth,” lawyer Jay Tolosa, a counsel for the panel of prosecutors, told a news conference.
Tolosa said the Vice President’s SALNs cannot be taken in isolation and have to be compared with her income tax declarations with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, her bank records and other documents subpoenaed and turned over to the Senate impeachment court.
He said the comparison would show if the respondent’s declared wealth jibe with her tax filings and bank records that would indicate her overall wealth.
“We cannot take it in isolation. Kailangan itong ikumpara para makita natin kung tumutugma yung mga figures sa SALN dun sa magkano ang kinita na dineklara sa tax filings, at magkano yung totoong kabuuang yaman na dun magigiging relevant naman yung bank records, for example, and other evidence na ipe-present ng prosecution,” he said.
Tolosa pointed out that total wealth includes not only the personal bank accounts of the Vice President and those of her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, but businesses in which they have financial interest.
“Kasi nga, pag sinabi mong kabuuang yaman niya, hindi lang yan personal bank accounts niya, ng asawa niya, kasama din ang mga negosyo na meron silang interest,” he added.
He clarified that at this state in the presentation of evidence on Article of Impeachment 2 on unexplained wealth, the prosecution has already established its point.
“So hindi pa natin puwedeng sabihin at this point na na-establish na dito kaagad ang punto ng unexplained wealth. Isang importanteng part pa lang ito ng buong istorya ng unexplained wealth,” he stressed.
He said the unexplained wealth issue consists of two points.
“Dalawa yung pinag-uusapan dito sa unexplained wealth. Una, yung mismong nakadeklarang yaman dito kanyang SALNs, ito ba ay tutugma dun sa kanyang income na puwede niyang kitain as a government official or kung may other legitimate sources, if those are allowed considering yung restrictions niya since she is already Vice President,” he said.
He said the second point is if the Vice President holds other wealth that she has not declared.
“Ang pangalawa, yan lang ba ang kabuuang yaman niya or meron pang mas malaking yaman na hindi pa naipapakita at hindi pa nai-deklara?” Tolosa asked.
He said the prosecution would find that out in the succeeding trials, but it is important that the initial part of the puzzle already shows how much the Vice President declared in her SALNS.
“Wala pa ho tayo dun but mahalaga, alam na natin ngayon dun sa first part ng puzzle magkano ang idineklarang pera,” he said.
Comparing the SALNs with tax documents and other evidence would reveal the extend of the Vice President’s wealth, Tolosa stressed.
metrosundaily
