MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives' prosecution panel on Tuesday challenged Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team to produce a witness who could dispute bank records cited in the impeachment proceedings, questioning whether the reported balances could be contradicted.
“Will the banks’ records change? Will they present a witness who will say that those outstanding balances are wrong?” House prosecution adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers said in a press briefing.
Barbers pointed to combined year-end bank balances held by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, that reached about P71 million in 2023, compared with the P14 million Duterte declared under other personal properties in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) that year.
The combined balances stood at about P59 million in 2022, P22 million in 2024 and P39 million in 2025. Duterte declared about P13 million, P21.13 million and P29 million in other personal properties for those years, respectively.
“Our citizens have the right to a clear and complete explanation from our Vice President’s camp,” Barbers said, adding that the defense should address the financial records presented during the impeachment proceedings.
The trial is set to resume on Nov. 9, 2026 when Duterte’s defense team was expected to begin presenting evidence on Article II, the remaining impeachment charge involving alleged unexplained wealth.
Barbers also questioned whether Duterte had declared her insurance policies, investments, 51 registered firearms worth P7.22 million, business interests and real properties in Davao City and Samal Island.
“These are the things the defense really needs to explain,” he said.
Forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera identified at least P817.87 million in alleged undeclared assets and unexplained wealth from 2022 to 2025. He testified that the amount could reach P1.5 billion under a broader calculation, subject to adjustments.
The prosecution also presented Anti-Money Laundering Council records covering about P4.4 billion in reported financial transactions from 2007 to 2025.
