MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte violated the Constitution when she failed to divest her business interests after being elected in 2022, a member of the prosecution team of the House of Representatives said on Monday.
Prosecution spokesman and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong issued the statement on Day 27 of Duterte’s impeachment trial, citing the testimony of Securities and Exchange Commission Company Research and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Del Rosario.
Del Rosario presented financial records of Metro City Chow Foods Corp., where Duterte is listed as an incorporator, director, and 20-percent shareholder, noting that the company’s ownership structure remained unchanged from 2022 to 2025, with Duterte retaining her position and 20-percent stake.
“It is very clear that VP Sara Duterte was elected Vice President for the 2022–2025 term, yet she did not divest from any of the companies or businesses where she served as a director or shareholder,” Adiong said in Filipino in a briefing.
“So, this is a clear violation—as plain as day—of our Constitution, specifically Article VII, Section 13, which prohibits the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members from holding any direct or indirect interest. The Constitution forbids that,” he added.
Financial statements presented before the Senate impeachment court showed Metro City Chow Foods posted net losses from 2020 to 2024 before recording P207,137 in net income in 2025. Del Rosario said the company had declared no dividends during those years.
Adiong questioned why Duterte continued to hold an investment in a company that had not declared dividends, linking the issue to questions surrounding the growth of her declared net worth.
“We are talking about unexplained wealth here. It appears no dividends are being received, and no income is flowing back to her. Why run a business that is continuously losing money, and if your business is constantly incurring losses, why is your net worth increasing?” the congressman said.
