Prosec piecing together evidence on VP’s alleged unexplained wealth – Ridon

MANILA, Philippines – The full amount of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth has yet to emerge as prosecutors continue to piece together evidence on properties, firearms and financial transactions against what she declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), a House prosecutor said over the weekend.

House prosecutor Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list declined to give an overall figure, citing the Senate impeachment court’s sub judice rule, but said prosecutors have already presented evidence involving assets worth millions of pesos.

“Meron pong mga lote, ’yun pong mga baril. Siyempre nasa milyon na po ’yung pinag-uusapan po natin doon,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

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“So kailangan po kasi magbangga itong lahat ng ito doon sa mga deklarado pong mga assets sa kanyang SALN,” he added.

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Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, declared a combined net worth of P98.656 million in their 2025 joint SALN, up from P88.512 million in 2024.

The prosecution has presented land registration records involving a P6-million property in Matina, Davao City, acquired by Duterte in 2024 and a P3-million property in Samal Island registered to Carpio, both of which prosecutors said were not reflected in the couple’s SALNs.

Police Maj. Joerickson Sangalang, Records Division chief of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, also testified that Duterte had 22 registered firearms while Carpio had 29.

The prosecution said the firearms had a combined value of more than P7 million and questioned how they were reflected in the couple’s SALNs.

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Ridon said those form only part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II, with key financial evidence still to come.

“So siyempre unang bahagi pa lang po ito, pero siyempre ’yung AMLC isasalang po sa Lunes, ’yung bank accounts isasalang po sa susunod pong araw, kasama po ’yung mga insurance companies,” he said.

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The Senate impeachment court has ordered officials from seven banks and seven financial firms to testify and produce records involving Duterte and Carpio.

AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura is also expected to take the witness stand Monday.

Article II accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, failing to fully and truthfully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth, and continuing business interests while serving as vice president.

Ridon said different witnesses are intended to establish separate aspects of the unexplained wealth charge, including assets prosecutors allege should have been disclosed in Duterte’s SALNs.

“So ’yung hindi maipaliwanag na yaman, ’yun pong mga pag-aari na dapat nakalagay sa SALN pero hindi nakalagay sa SALN. So iba’t ibang aspeto po ’yung nais patunayan kada testigo,” Ridon said.

He said the prosecution would wait for the remaining evidence before discussing an overall amount.

“So antayin na lang natin siguro ’yung kabuuang figures, kasi parang ayaw naming magbayad ng 30,000 fine para sabihin po ’yung mga nakahanda na mga babanggitin po na testimonya,” Ridon said.

Ridon was referring to the Senate impeachment court’s sub judice rule, which stipulates a fine of up to P30,000 for violations involving public statements that could affect the merits of the pending trial.

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The lawmaker was earlier given a stern warning by the court over his public remarks, while prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. was admonished and told to exercise greater restraint