A senior House leader on Friday questioned how the legal defense of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being funded, citing gaps between declared wealth and reported financial activity.
Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V raised the issue amid ongoing impeachment proceedings, where Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared net worth of around P88 million was presented alongside bank transactions flagged to have reached billions of pesos.
Ortega said the situation has prompted public scrutiny, particularly given the Duterte family’s long-standing portrayal of a modest lifestyle. He noted that the scale of expenses tied to an international legal defense raises legitimate questions about funding sources.
Data discussed during the hearings, based on Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports, showed at least 663 transactions linked to the Vice President and her husband. Of these, 630 were categorized as “covered” and 33 as “suspicious,” with total amounts estimated at P6.7 billion.
These figures, Ortega said, contrast with the significant costs associated with defending a case before the ICC. While unverified, some reports estimate monthly legal fees for British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman at P145 million to P150 million.
He said that if such estimates are accurate, the monthly expense alone would represent a substantial portion of the Vice President’s declared net worth in her 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), based on records from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Ortega also pointed to additional expenses, including international travel, accommodations, and repeated trips to Europe, particularly The Netherlands, where the ICC is based.
He clarified that he was not making accusations but calling for transparency, noting that the figures cited are drawn from official records and warrant explanation.
Ortega said clarifying the source of funds would help address public concerns over how such high-profile legal expenses are being covered.