Politics · Philippines Bureau
VP Duterte failed to declare cash holdings for six years, witness tells Senate
A prosecution witness has testified before the Philippine Senate that Vice President Sara Duterte omitted any declaration of cash on hand and in bank accounts across her Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth filings from 2019 to 2025.
LSN Philippines ·
An officer from the Office of the Ombudsman provided the testimony during Senate proceedings on Tuesday, presenting documentary evidence of the alleged discrepancies in the Vice President's financial disclosures.
Karen Batu, Officer-in-Charge of the Records Division at the Ombudsman's office, told lawmakers that the six-year period covering 2019 through 2025 showed no reported liquid assets in Duterte's required SALN submissions. The SALN documents are mandatory filings for all government officials and are intended to provide public transparency regarding their financial holdings and potential conflicts of interest.
The testimony forms part of ongoing Senate inquiries into the Vice President's financial disclosures and compliance with government transparency requirements. Duterte has previously faced scrutiny regarding her official financial statements and government spending during her tenure as Davao City mayor before her election as Vice President in 2022.
The omission of cash holdings from financial declarations can carry significant legal implications under Philippine law, which requires strict compliance with SALN filing requirements. Officials found to have submitted false or incomplete SALNs may face administrative or criminal penalties depending on the nature and extent of the violations.