Politics · Philippines Bureau
Unexplained wealth may justify VP Duterte's removal, retired justice testifies
A retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice told Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial that accumulation of unexplained wealth constitutes valid grounds for removing a public official from office. The testimony supports one of four impeachment articles filed against Duterte.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — A former senior justice of the Sandiganbayan testified Monday that public officers found to possess unexplained wealth can be removed or dismissed from their positions under Philippine law. The retired magistrate's statement provides judicial authority for arguments being pressed in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
One of the four articles of impeachment brought against Duterte accuses her of accumulating wealth that cannot be adequately explained, as well as failing to fully disclose her financial assets. Legal experts have cited such unexplained wealth cases as precedent for official removal in the Philippines.
The impeachment proceedings, initiated in the House of Representatives, have centered on allegations spanning financial discrepancies and governance issues during Duterte's tenure as Davao City mayor and her current position as Vice President. The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, has been hearing testimony from witnesses and experts to evaluate the charges.
The trial comes amid heightened political tensions in the country, with Duterte having earlier announced her resignation from her cabinet post and distanced herself from the administration. Her legal team has maintained that all her financial declarations comply with government requirements.