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Advocates Philippines
SALN Gap Raises Red Flags In Sara Duterte Impeachment
Photo credit: Sara Duterte
A growing gap between Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared wealth and billions of pesos in financial transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is drawing fresh scrutiny as impeachment proceedings move forward in the House of Representatives.
On Thursday, Chel Diokno said the discrepancy could serve as a crucial piece of evidence, even describing it as a possible “smoking gun” in determining probable cause against the Vice President.
In a media interview, Diokno stressed that Duterte needs to address the mismatch between her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and the financial activity flagged in the AMLC report submitted to the House Committee on Justice.
“Kailangang ipaliwanag ni Vice President Sara Duterte ‘yung lumabas sa report ng AMLC kumpara sa mga idineklara niya sa kanyang SALN,” Diokno pointed out.
According to figures presented during Wednesday’s impeachment hearing, the AMLC reported a net inflow of around P2.87 billion passing through accounts linked to Duterte. In contrast, records from the Office of the Ombudsman show she declared a net worth of only P88.5 million in her 2024 SALN.
“Napakalaki ng pagkakaiba, ang discrepancy ng dalawang halaga na ‘yan at either dito sa committee o kaya sa Senado kung ‘yan ang kagustuhan niya, ay dapat ipaliwanag niya,” Diokno said.
“Para sa akin ito’y isang smoking gun, at least insofar as probable cause is concerned,” he added.
Diokno emphasized that the issue goes beyond numbers, striking at the core of allegations of unexplained wealth—one of the main grounds cited in impeachment complaints against Duterte.
He also pushed back against claims that only transactions during Duterte’s current term should be considered, arguing that past financial activity remains relevant if it involves assets that should have been declared.
“Kung titingnan natin kasi ‘yung allegation ng unexplained wealth, ‘yung mga nangyari noon, o ‘yung mga dumaan sa kanya na mga pera sa kanyang account, kailangan na-declare ‘yun hanggang sa ngayon kung hindi man lang lumalabas ‘yun. So may relevance pa rin ‘yung mga nangyari noon,” Diokno explained.
“At hindi natin mahihiwalay ‘yung nangyari noon bilang lingkod bayan sa nangyari ngayon lalo na ‘yung nakita natin na ganoon kalalaking bilyon-bilyong piso pala ang dumaan sa mga accounts nila.”
During the same hearing, Atty. Karen Batu of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division presented a timeline of Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2024. The records showed her declared net worth steadily increasing from P7.25 million in 2007 to P88.51 million in 2024, with gradual jumps over the years.
As the impeachment process unfolds, lawmakers are expected to dig deeper into the discrepancies, with the Vice President facing mounting pressure to explain the gap between her declared assets and the financial flows flagged by regulators.
On Thursday, Chel Diokno said the discrepancy could serve as a crucial piece of evidence, even describing it as a possible “smoking gun” in determining probable cause against the Vice President.
In a media interview, Diokno stressed that Duterte needs to address the mismatch between her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and the financial activity flagged in the AMLC report submitted to the House Committee on Justice.
“Kailangang ipaliwanag ni Vice President Sara Duterte ‘yung lumabas sa report ng AMLC kumpara sa mga idineklara niya sa kanyang SALN,” Diokno pointed out.
According to figures presented during Wednesday’s impeachment hearing, the AMLC reported a net inflow of around P2.87 billion passing through accounts linked to Duterte. In contrast, records from the Office of the Ombudsman show she declared a net worth of only P88.5 million in her 2024 SALN.
“Napakalaki ng pagkakaiba, ang discrepancy ng dalawang halaga na ‘yan at either dito sa committee o kaya sa Senado kung ‘yan ang kagustuhan niya, ay dapat ipaliwanag niya,” Diokno said.
“Para sa akin ito’y isang smoking gun, at least insofar as probable cause is concerned,” he added.
Diokno emphasized that the issue goes beyond numbers, striking at the core of allegations of unexplained wealth—one of the main grounds cited in impeachment complaints against Duterte.
He also pushed back against claims that only transactions during Duterte’s current term should be considered, arguing that past financial activity remains relevant if it involves assets that should have been declared.
“Kung titingnan natin kasi ‘yung allegation ng unexplained wealth, ‘yung mga nangyari noon, o ‘yung mga dumaan sa kanya na mga pera sa kanyang account, kailangan na-declare ‘yun hanggang sa ngayon kung hindi man lang lumalabas ‘yun. So may relevance pa rin ‘yung mga nangyari noon,” Diokno explained.
“At hindi natin mahihiwalay ‘yung nangyari noon bilang lingkod bayan sa nangyari ngayon lalo na ‘yung nakita natin na ganoon kalalaking bilyon-bilyong piso pala ang dumaan sa mga accounts nila.”
During the same hearing, Atty. Karen Batu of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division presented a timeline of Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2024. The records showed her declared net worth steadily increasing from P7.25 million in 2007 to P88.51 million in 2024, with gradual jumps over the years.
As the impeachment process unfolds, lawmakers are expected to dig deeper into the discrepancies, with the Vice President facing mounting pressure to explain the gap between her declared assets and the financial flows flagged by regulators.
Apr 23, 2026
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