SEC records contradict VP Duterte's SALN filing on restaurant ownership

MANILA — Official Securities and Exchange Commission records do not show Vice President Sara Duterte as an incorporator or stockholder of a restaurant entity, contradicting declarations she made in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, according to testimony presented during ongoing proceedings.

The divergence between her SALN filing and SEC corporate documentation was brought to light during the testimony of an official from the SEC's Company Registration and Monitoring Department. The official compared the vice president's personal financial disclosures against the agency's registered business records for the establishment in question.

SALN forms, which Philippine officials are required to file annually, serve as public declarations of personal wealth, properties, and business interests. Discrepancies between such filings and official records can raise questions about the accuracy and completeness of financial disclosures.

The testimony marks a significant development in the ongoing proceedings involving the vice president, as investigators examine the consistency of her financial declarations against available government documentation. The case continues to draw public attention as officials scrutinize the accuracy of her reported business interests and assets.

No further details were immediately available regarding the nature of the restaurant entity or the circumstances surrounding the conflicting records.