Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and a member of the Committee on Justice, defended lawmakers’ decision to examine Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records beyond recent years, saying a comprehensive inquiry—extending back to the start of her public service—is necessary to determine whether there is unexplained wealth and to track how her declared assets have evolved over time.
“Ang parte po kasi ng complaint ay unexplained wealth,” Chua said, noting that the nature of the allegations requires a broader review rather than a limited snapshot of recent years.
He explained that cases involving alleged unexplained wealth often require tracing the movement of funds over time, including possible use of businesses or financial institutions to make illicit funds appear legitimate.
“Halimbawa, kung may pera na galing sa illegal na bagay, ipapasok sa bangko sa pamamagitan ng negosyo. Paglabas nito, puwede nang ipalabas na legal na kita,” he said.
Chua said investigators are reviewing records dating back to 2007, when Duterte first entered public office as vice mayor of Davao City, to assess whether the growth of her assets aligns with her declared income.
“Titignan po natin ang history mula noong 2007… kung paano lumago ang kanyang ari-arian hanggang maging Bise Presidente, at kung ito ba ay maipapaliwanag base sa kanyang kinikita,” he said.
He added that the review includes comparing Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) with data from other sources, such as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and corporate filings.
Earlier discussions in the House raised questions over Duterte’s SALNs from 2019 to 2024, which reportedly showed no declared cash holdings, despite other financial records indicating transactions and business interests that require verification.
Chua said criticism that the probe goes too far back overlooks the nature of unexplained wealth investigations, which require a long-term view of asset accumulation.
He also rejected claims that the proceedings are politically motivated, saying the House is fulfilling its constitutional duty to assess the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.
He said the central issue remains whether the growth of Duterte’s wealth can be fully explained by declared income and lawful sources throughout her public service.