PROSECUTION PIECING TOGETHER ‘WEALTH PUZZLE’ IN VP SARA TRIAL – CHUA

“Ito nga iyong parang puzzle na binubuo natin unti-unti para makita po natin talaga kung gaano po kalaki ang yaman ng ating Bise Presidente,” House prosecutor Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said at a press briefing Monday.

“At ito’y ibabangga natin doon sa kanyang mga idineklara sa kanyang SALN at kung paano lumago, from 2007 up to 2025,” he added.

Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) presented in her impeachment trial showed her declared net worth growing from about P7.25 million in 2007 to P98.66 million in 2025.

Chua, who chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said prosecutors are seeking to determine whether the P98.66 million represents the full extent of Duterte’s wealth.

“At dito ba sa P98 million na ito, ito ba hanggang dito na lamang, o mas marami pa siyang hindi nade-declare?” he said.

“So ’yan po iyong unti-unting puzzle na binubuo po ng prosecution,” Chua added.

Under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment involving alleged unexplained wealth, prosecutors have presented Duterte’s SALNs and corporate records involving her declared business interests, while also obtaining bank records through subpoenas issued by the Senate impeachment court.

They have questioned whether her declared businesses generated income that could account for the increase in her net worth after corporate records examined during the trial showed no dividend declarations in several companies.

On Monday, prosecutors also presented Philippine National Police (PNP) records showing Duterte has 22 registered firearms and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, has 29.

The PNP Firearms and Explosives Office placed the combined current market value of the 51 firearms at about P7.22 million, although its witness clarified that the amount did not represent their actual acquisition costs.