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Advocates Philippines
Luistro Says VP Sara's Past SALNs Key To 'Unexplained Wealth' Probe
Photo credit: Congress PH
The House of Representatives is standing its ground on its controversial move to subpoena Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs)—even those filed before she became an impeachable official.
For Atty. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House Committee on Justice, the reason is simple: you can’t verify alleged unexplained wealth without looking at the full financial picture.
Speaking in an interview, Luistro said the request for earlier SALNs is directly tied to the allegations raised in the impeachment complaints. According to her, these documents help establish a clear “trail of evidence” that could show whether assets were properly declared over time.
“There is an allegation of unexplained wealth and non-disclosure in the SALN,” Luistro explained, stressing that even records from before Duterte assumed national office may hold crucial clues.
The Office of the Ombudsman has already committed to providing the requested documents, following the subpoena issued by the justice panel. Lawmakers are seeking certified copies covering multiple years, along with income tax returns and corporate records.
Luistro clarified that while the impeachment process focuses on the period when Duterte is already an impeachable official, reviewing earlier financial records is necessary for context.
In other words, if income or assets were acquired before she became vice president, those should still appear in her later SALNs if they were properly declared.
“So even if those SALNs cover a time when she was not yet impeachable, they are still relevant,” Luistro said, noting that the goal is to determine whether there were inconsistencies or missing disclosures during the “relevant period.”
The impeachment complaints against Duterte include issues surrounding confidential funds, alleged threats, and questions about her wealth declarations.
For the House panel, Luistro said, the bottom line is accountability—and meeting public expectations for transparency as the inquiry moves forward.
For Atty. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House Committee on Justice, the reason is simple: you can’t verify alleged unexplained wealth without looking at the full financial picture.
Speaking in an interview, Luistro said the request for earlier SALNs is directly tied to the allegations raised in the impeachment complaints. According to her, these documents help establish a clear “trail of evidence” that could show whether assets were properly declared over time.
“There is an allegation of unexplained wealth and non-disclosure in the SALN,” Luistro explained, stressing that even records from before Duterte assumed national office may hold crucial clues.
The Office of the Ombudsman has already committed to providing the requested documents, following the subpoena issued by the justice panel. Lawmakers are seeking certified copies covering multiple years, along with income tax returns and corporate records.
Luistro clarified that while the impeachment process focuses on the period when Duterte is already an impeachable official, reviewing earlier financial records is necessary for context.
In other words, if income or assets were acquired before she became vice president, those should still appear in her later SALNs if they were properly declared.
“So even if those SALNs cover a time when she was not yet impeachable, they are still relevant,” Luistro said, noting that the goal is to determine whether there were inconsistencies or missing disclosures during the “relevant period.”
The impeachment complaints against Duterte include issues surrounding confidential funds, alleged threats, and questions about her wealth declarations.
For the House panel, Luistro said, the bottom line is accountability—and meeting public expectations for transparency as the inquiry moves forward.
Apr 11, 2026
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