Vice President Sara Duterte's Financial Disclosures Under Scrutiny Amid Impeachment Proceedings
During the resumption of impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte by the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Office of the Ombudsman submitted copies of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) spanning from 2007 to 2024. These documents cover her tenure as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, as well as her election as the second highest government official in the country.
Net Worth Surge and Missing Cash Declarations
The submitted SALNs reveal a significant and rapid increase in the net worth of Vice President Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, from P7,250,497 in 2007 to P88,512,370.22 in 2024. However, despite this substantial growth, the couple reported no cash on hand or cash in bank deposits from 2019 through 2024, a stark contrast to previous years where such amounts were consistently declared.
Here is a breakdown of their declared net worth and cash deposits based on the SALNs:
- 2007: P7,250,497 (cash on hand/bank - P2 million)
- 2008: P18,493,616.65 (cash on hand/bank - P2 million)
- 2009: P18,281,264.65 (cash on hand/bank - P2 million)
- 2010: P16,242,886.65 (cash on hand/bank - P3,661,622)
- 2011: P14,271,148.45 (cash on hand/bank - P3,931,125.80)
- 2012: P22,116,101.93 (cash on hand/bank - P4,320,532)
- 2016: P34,895,997 (cash on hand/bank - P3,750,760)
- 2017: P44,828,759 (cash on hand/bank - P6,368,596)
- 2018: P49,699,728 (cash on hand/bank - P3,795,000)
- 2019: P55,613,051 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
- 2020: P56,583,735.01 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
- 2021: P65,308,841 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
- 2022: P71,658,841 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
- 2023: P77,508,841 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
- 2024: P88,512,370.22 (no declared cash on hand/deposit)
Lawmakers Raise Doubts Over Transparency
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima expressed serious concerns about the sudden and continuous absence of cash declarations in the SALNs. She emphasized that this raises doubts about the accuracy and completeness of Duterte's financial disclosures, particularly given the previously reported amounts.
De Lima also highlighted that from 2021 to 2024, a period encompassing Duterte's election as Vice President, only her husband declared liabilities amounting to P7.5 million, P3.750 million, P2.550 million, and P9.950 million, respectively. She stated, "This sudden change in the way liabilities are reported is highly suspicious and should be investigated as it may indicate reclassification or possible circumvention of full disclosure requirements."
Furthermore, De Lima questioned the rapid increase in the couple's net worth, which jumped from around P34 million in 2016 to over P70 million and up to P88 million from 2022 to 2024, while Duterte served as Vice President. She added, "Such a fast and significant increase in wealth, coupled with the absence of declared liquid assets and transfer of liabilities, raises serious doubts regarding the veracity, transparency, and integrity of the Vice President's financial disclosures."
Consistent Asset Declarations and Business Interests
The SALNs also show consistent declarations of real assets, such as P10,802,668.65 from 2009 to 2011, P30,548,891 in 2016 and 2017, and P39,798,891 in 2019 to 2020. Personal assets remained steady at P19,274,950 in 2019 and 2020, and P23,849,950 in 2021 and 2022. Personal assets in the SALN refer to all movable or tangible properties of value owned by the public official, their spouse, and unmarried children below 18 years living in their household, including vehicles, investments, jewelry, appliances, and electronic gadgets.
The couple's business interests, as indicated in the SALNs, involve various companies over the years, such as Davao Emerging Taipan Corporation, Davao Bounty Times Food Corp., and Tapang At Malasakit Alliance For The Philippines Inc., among others, with changes in holdings noted from 2007 to 2024.
Committee Proceedings and Legal Arguments
Sagip party-list Representative Paolo Henry Marcoleta criticized the committee's actions, describing them as a "fishing expedition," and noted that the SALNs under scrutiny are not attached to the impeachment complaints, questioning the sufficiency of the complaint.
In response, House justice committee chairperson and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro clarified that the copies of SALNs were subpoenaed not to supplement or correct the complaint. She explained, "The purpose of the issuance of the subpoena is to test if the complaint is sufficient already for the existence of probable cause. To aid the members in judging whether or not probable cause exists on the basis of allegations in the complaints, including the attached document."
The impeachment hearings continue as lawmakers delve deeper into the financial records, aiming to assess the transparency and integrity of the Vice President's disclosures amid growing public and political scrutiny.
