Treasure hunt begins

Did Vice President Sara Duterte amass ill-gotten wealth as a public official? Does she have hidden wealth? The quest for answers to these questions began this week as the Senate impeachment court started deliberating on Article II of the impeachment complaint against her. The hunt for hidden treasures begins.

Article II of the impeachment complaint accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official. Furthermore, she is charged with failing to fully and truthfully disclose all her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), including those for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Finally, she is accused of failing to divest and, instead, willfully continuing all her business interests during her tenure as vice president in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Article II centers on allegations that Sara Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth disproportionate to her lawful income. If proven, the allegations could raise questions about the sources of the wealth.

The accusation of unexplained wealth against Sara Duterte challenges the carefully cultivated image of the Dutertes as crusaders against graft and corruption. Her father built his national political career by presenting himself as a champion of good government. If the charge against Sara Duterte is proven, it could undermine that image.

Some interesting information on the facts surrounding Article II emerged this week as the impeachment court tackled the specific charge. The prosecution is still laying out the basis of the accusation. Basic information related to the charge is being presented.

Retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang was called to the witness stand to enlighten the senator-judges and the public about the legal principles involving undisclosed and unexplained wealth and prohibited business interests. As a retired justice of the anti-graft court, she offered expert testimony. She explained that amassing ill-gotten or unexplained wealth may be a ground for the removal or dismissal from office of a public official.

The testimony of former Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang focused on Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Section 8 of the law states that “If in accordance with the provisions of RA 1379 a public official has been found to have acquired during his incumbency whether in his name or in the name of other persons an amount of property and/or money manifestly out of proportion to his salary and to his other lawful income, that fact shall be a ground for dismissal or removal.” RA 1379 provides for the forfeiture in favor of the state of property unlawfully acquired by a public officer or employee.

Despite the importance of the information former Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang offered to the impeachment court, Sen. Imee Marcos questioned the prosecution’s move to present her as a witness. The impeachment court ultimately allowed Cabotaje-Tang to testify.

Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division, was also called to the witness stand to explain the nitty-gritty of the SALN. She centered her testimony on the SALNs of Vice President Sara Duterte. Batu’s examination of Sara Duterte’s SALNs yielded interesting information.

Aside from certifying the authenticity of Sara Duterte’s SALNs from her time as Davao City vice mayor and mayor to her current term as vice president, Batu noted a dramatic rise in her declared net worth. In 2007, Sara Duterte declared in her SALN that her net worth was PHP 7,250,497. By 2025, Sara Duterte’s net worth had risen to PHP 98,656,131.20. This represents an increase of about 1,261% in her declared net worth.

To be tackled next week by the impeachment court are the transactions that flowed through the bank accounts of Sara Duterte and her husband. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reported approximately PHP 6.77 billion in covered and suspicious transaction activity associated with Sara Duterte and Manases Carpio over a period spanning roughly 2006 to 2025.

Do the approximately 1,261% increase in Sara Duterte’s declared net worth and the PHP 6.77 billion that moved through her and her husband’s bank accounts prove, as of this writing, the allegation that she accumulated ill-gotten wealth? Does the information indicate that she had hidden treasures?

As of now, it is still premature to conclude that Sara Duterte accumulated hidden or ill-gotten wealth. However, questions remain about whether the dramatic increase in her net worth from 2007 to 2025 is legitimate, lawful and justifiable. The trial will also examine whether the PHP 6.77 billion in transactions involving her and her husband’s bank accounts can be adequately explained.

The coming days of the impeachment trial will be colorful and potentially consequential. The bank records of Sara Duterte and her husband will be presented and scrutinized in the impeachment court. The AMLC report on the couple’s bank transactions will be dissected. These are hard data and facts. The Filipino people will know more as the evidence is examined.

Deliberation on Article II of the impeachment complaint has taken on the character of a financial treasure hunt. The tantalizing question is: Does Sara Duterte have hidden treasures? Scrutiny of her SALNs, income tax returns, bank accounts and bank transactions is like going through a financial maze. Will the journey through Sara Duterte’s financial labyrinth lead to hidden treasures or an empty cavern? The evidence will eventually provide answers as Article II is interrogated and unpacked by the impeachment court. ABANGAN!!!