By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has allowed prosecutors to present Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) dating back to 2007, ruling that the earlier declarations may be used to establish a baseline for determining changes in her wealth during her impeachable term.
The ruling came Tuesday as the prosecution resumed presentation of its evidence for Article II, which accuses Duterte of having unexplained wealth and failing to properly declare it in her SALN.
Prosecution counsel James Bryan Ibrahim Alih presented Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division, as its second witness for Article II.
Defense counsel Justin Nicol Gular objected, arguing that the prosecution was seeking to introduce SALNs covering periods before 2022, when Duterte was not yet Vice President and therefore was not serving in an impeachable position.
Gular invoked the Supreme Court ruling in Duterte v. House of Representatives, arguing that the impeachment court’s jurisdiction covers acts allegedly committed in relation to an impeachable position during the respondent’s impeachable term.
Escudero, however, reminded the defense that the issue had already been addressed when the impeachment court ruled on the prosecution’s request for subpoenas covering Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2025.
The presiding officer cited the Office of the Ombudsman v. Bernardo ruling, which he said recognizes the need to establish a baseline so that changes in a public official’s declared wealth can be properly determined.
Escudero stressed that the admission of the earlier SALNs does not expand the impeachment charges against Duterte.
He clarified that acts outside Duterte’s term as Vice President would not constitute additional charges before the impeachment court, and that the 2007-to-2021 SALNs would be considered only for purposes of establishing the baseline.
The defense maintained its objection to prosecution Offers No. 3, 4 and 9, which concern Duterte’s declared net worth and the authentication of her SALNs.
The prosecution seeks to establish Duterte’s declared net worth and its components, including cash and personal properties, from 2007 through 2025.
It also seeks to establish, based on Duterte’s own sworn declarations, that her declared net worth and that of her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, increased from P7.25 million in 2007 to P65.31 million in 2021 and P98.66 million in 2025.
The prosecution further seeks to identify and authenticate certified true copies of Duterte’s SALNs for 2007 to 2012 and 2016 to 2025.
The defense, meanwhile, agreed to stipulate on Offer No. 1, concerning Batu’s position as officer-in-charge of the Ombudsman’s Records Division and the agency’s role as repository of SALNs filed by presidents and vice presidents.
Batu had previously appeared during the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice proceedings involving the impeachment complaints against Duterte.
During a hearing on April 22, Batu confirmed the authenticity of Duterte’s SALNs covering 2007 to 2024.
The earlier SALNs have figured prominently in allegations of unexplained wealth against the Vice President.
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who later joined the prosecution team and was designated co-team leader for Article II, previously pointed to the growth in Duterte’s declared net worth as significant to the allegations.
Ridon said Duterte’s 2007 SALN showed a net worth of about P7.2 million, while her 2024 SALN reflected P88.51 million—a rise he characterized as a 1,120-percent increase.
Using Duterte’s 2008 SALN as the starting point, Ridon said her declared net worth increased from P18.49 million in 2008 to P77.50 million in 2023 and P88.51 million in 2024.
The prosecution’s presentation of the earlier SALNs will therefore serve as the documentary baseline as the impeachment court examines the allegations under Article II.
ia/xf
