Police records presented to the Senate impeachment court on Monday showed that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, hold 51 registered firearms, including four Class A light weapons with fully automatic capabilities.
Police Maj. Joe Rickson Sangalang, Records Division chief of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), testified before the impeachment court regarding the couple’s firearms records, which were introduced by House prosecutor and San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora as part of evidence under Article II concerning the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth.
According to Sangalang, 22 of the firearms are registered under the Vice President’s name, while 29 belong to Carpio.
“Si Vice President Sara po ay merong 22 firearms. Meron po siyang 14 na pistols, two revolvers, five rifles, of which tatlo po doon ay Class A light weapons, and isa pang shotgun,” Sangalang said.
Sangalang detailed that Carpio’s inventory comprises 16 pistols, two revolvers, one shotgun, and 10 rifles, including one Class A light weapon. He added that one of Carpio’s firearm registrations is expired.
Both Duterte and Carpio hold Type 5 Licenses to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF), which permit certified collectors to possess more than 15 firearms.
When questioned about the three Class A light weapons under the Vice President’s registration, Sangalang confirmed their automatic capabilities.
“Ibig sabihin po nito, ’pag kinalabit po natin iyong gatilyo, sunud-sunod na po iyong puputok,” he said.
PNP-FEO records estimated the combined current market value of the 51 firearms at P7,220,370, specifying P2,184,550 for Duterte’s collection and P5,035,820 for Carpio’s.
However, the valuation encountered questioning from the defense and the bench, as Sangalang clarified that the totals reflected current market estimates rather than actual purchase prices.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero questioned the weight of the market valuation in relation to the unexplained wealth charge, directing prosecutors to condense the presentation. Sangalang conceded that he lacked personal knowledge of the actual acquisition costs paid by the couple.
Following Escudero’s clarification that the P7.2-million figure was derived from an FEO market survey, defense counsel opted to waive cross-examination.