House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has raised the possibility of tax evasion involving Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, citing an alleged P111.85-million gap between her declared income and bank deposits examined during her impeachment trial.
During the press briefing, Alonto Adiong said the discrepancy raised questions not only about Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth but also about whether she had properly declared her income and paid the correct taxes.
“Hindi lang ho ito issue ng non-disclosure or unexplained wealth. This is also an issue of tax evasion,” Alonto Adiong said.
He cited financial records showing P174.96 million in bank inflows compared with P63.11 million in declared income from 2022 to 2025, leaving a difference of P111.85 million.
The figures were part of the findings of forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera, who examined Duterte’s income tax returns, bank records, and other financial documents presented during the Senate impeachment trial.
Cabrera included the P111.85-million alleged undeclared income in his broader estimate of P817.87 million in unexplained wealth and undeclared assets involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution wanted Duterte to explain the sources of the deposits and why the amounts differed from the income reported to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The alleged discrepancy forms part of Article II of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte of accumulating unexplained wealth and failing to fully disclose her assets.
The prosecution maintains that public officials must be able to account for their wealth and show that their assets came from lawful sources.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing, while her lawyers have challenged the prosecution’s evidence and conclusions.
The House prosecution has retained only Article II after withdrawing three other impeachment charges.
The defense is scheduled to begin presenting evidence when the trial resumes November 9.