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Advocates Philippines
Diokno Says 'Unexplained Wealth' Is Strongest Case Against VP Sara
Photo credit: Chel Diokno
AKBAYAN Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said the strongest argument in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte centers on allegations of unexplained wealth, particularly the billions of pesos that allegedly moved through bank accounts linked to the vice president and her family.
Speaking in an interview on ANC on Thursday, Diokno said the issue goes beyond politics and focuses on accountability in public office.
“If you go by previous impeachment cases that reached the Senate, then of course the biggest issue, and to me it’s a very valid issue, is the issue of unexplained wealth. Kasi ang hinahanap ng sambayanan ay siyempre ‘yung naglilingkod sa atin ay kailangan hindi corrupt,” he said.
The impeachment complaint’s Article II accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for allegedly failing to properly declare assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), while also allegedly maintaining wealth beyond her lawful income.
According to the article, Duterte’s declared net worth reportedly grew from over P7.2 million in 2007 to around P88.5 million in 2024. It also estimated that her total salary earnings as vice mayor, mayor, and vice president from 2007 to 2024 reached about P30 million, creating what complainants described as a major gap between income and declared wealth.
Diokno said the real concern is the movement of money reflected in banking records.
“Para sa akin, what needs to be explained is how did those billions of pesos pass through the Vice President’s accounts, whether in her individual name or in the spouse’s accounts. Paano dumaan ‘yun in her name, P2.87 billion. For both of them, P6.7 billion. That’s such a humongous amount that requires an explanation,” he said.
The impeachment article cited records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council allegedly showing more than P6.7 billion in covered and suspicious transactions connected to Duterte and her spouse between 2007 and 2024.
However, Duterte’s camp earlier disputed part of the figures. Lawyer Peter Paul Danao, speaking for Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio, said Bank of the Philippine Islands clarified that a reported “P2 billion” transaction was actually only “P2 million,” blaming the discrepancy on a supposed system glitch.
Diokno also pushed back against claims that the vice president was being politically persecuted, saying the House Committee on Justice repeatedly invited Duterte to attend hearings and answer the allegations herself.
“That’s also a reason why we were repeatedly waiting for the Vice President to come and appear in the Committee on Justice. Kasi I want to address that issue na meron daw persecution. There was no such thing,” he said.
He added that the Senate impeachment trial would be the proper venue for Duterte’s camp to present evidence and explain the questioned transactions.
Diokno stressed that SALNs are sworn documents and that public officials are personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the assets and bank accounts they declare every year.
“To me, it’s a very simple thing. You look at what was declared in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. You look at the records of the financial institutions, what was in those accounts as of that date, and if they don’t match, then that’s already, you can already presume that there is unexplained wealth,” he said.
The impeachment complaint also alleged that despite billions of pesos allegedly passing through bank accounts linked to Duterte from 2007 to 2024, only relatively small amounts were reflected in her SALNs, with some years reportedly showing no declared cash on hand or bank deposits at all.
Diokno maintained that those issues should ultimately be settled during a formal impeachment trial.
“Bakit sa media nila hinaharap ang depensa at hindi sa Committee on Justice? Kung ayaw nila sa amin, then ilabas nila ‘yan sa Senate so that we also have a chance to question that and examine them on those defenses. That’s why it’s called a trial. Doon natin malalaman kung may katotohanan yung sinasabi nga nila,” he said.
Speaking in an interview on ANC on Thursday, Diokno said the issue goes beyond politics and focuses on accountability in public office.
“If you go by previous impeachment cases that reached the Senate, then of course the biggest issue, and to me it’s a very valid issue, is the issue of unexplained wealth. Kasi ang hinahanap ng sambayanan ay siyempre ‘yung naglilingkod sa atin ay kailangan hindi corrupt,” he said.
The impeachment complaint’s Article II accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for allegedly failing to properly declare assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), while also allegedly maintaining wealth beyond her lawful income.
According to the article, Duterte’s declared net worth reportedly grew from over P7.2 million in 2007 to around P88.5 million in 2024. It also estimated that her total salary earnings as vice mayor, mayor, and vice president from 2007 to 2024 reached about P30 million, creating what complainants described as a major gap between income and declared wealth.
Diokno said the real concern is the movement of money reflected in banking records.
“Para sa akin, what needs to be explained is how did those billions of pesos pass through the Vice President’s accounts, whether in her individual name or in the spouse’s accounts. Paano dumaan ‘yun in her name, P2.87 billion. For both of them, P6.7 billion. That’s such a humongous amount that requires an explanation,” he said.
The impeachment article cited records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council allegedly showing more than P6.7 billion in covered and suspicious transactions connected to Duterte and her spouse between 2007 and 2024.
However, Duterte’s camp earlier disputed part of the figures. Lawyer Peter Paul Danao, speaking for Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio, said Bank of the Philippine Islands clarified that a reported “P2 billion” transaction was actually only “P2 million,” blaming the discrepancy on a supposed system glitch.
Diokno also pushed back against claims that the vice president was being politically persecuted, saying the House Committee on Justice repeatedly invited Duterte to attend hearings and answer the allegations herself.
“That’s also a reason why we were repeatedly waiting for the Vice President to come and appear in the Committee on Justice. Kasi I want to address that issue na meron daw persecution. There was no such thing,” he said.
He added that the Senate impeachment trial would be the proper venue for Duterte’s camp to present evidence and explain the questioned transactions.
Diokno stressed that SALNs are sworn documents and that public officials are personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the assets and bank accounts they declare every year.
“To me, it’s a very simple thing. You look at what was declared in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. You look at the records of the financial institutions, what was in those accounts as of that date, and if they don’t match, then that’s already, you can already presume that there is unexplained wealth,” he said.
The impeachment complaint also alleged that despite billions of pesos allegedly passing through bank accounts linked to Duterte from 2007 to 2024, only relatively small amounts were reflected in her SALNs, with some years reportedly showing no declared cash on hand or bank deposits at all.
Diokno maintained that those issues should ultimately be settled during a formal impeachment trial.
“Bakit sa media nila hinaharap ang depensa at hindi sa Committee on Justice? Kung ayaw nila sa amin, then ilabas nila ‘yan sa Senate so that we also have a chance to question that and examine them on those defenses. That’s why it’s called a trial. Doon natin malalaman kung may katotohanan yung sinasabi nga nila,” he said.
May 7, 2026
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