Billions of pesos in financial transactions linked to Vice President Sara Duterte are now under scrutiny, with a House leader warning that the scale of activity flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) may point to possible unexplained wealth and accountability issues.
House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the issue can be framed around three key questions: how much money moved, where it came from, and where it went. He said these are crucial in determining whether the transactions are consistent with declared assets.
Ridon made the remarks following a statement from Duterte spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, who cautioned against misinterpreting AMLC data. Poa said the P6.77 billion represents the cumulative total of transactions over 18 to 19 years, rather than the remaining balance in the accounts.
However, Ridon said this explanation does not ease concerns, noting that if the figures are not being disputed, their magnitude warrants further explanation.
He stressed that the issue is not about reconciling totals with year-end balances, but about understanding the source and use of the funds. Without clear answers, he said, the matter could fall under unexplained wealth and may amount to a betrayal of public trust.
Ridon cited discussions during the House Committee on Justice hearing on April 22, where the Office of the Ombudsman presented Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2007 to 2024. The records showed her declared net worth rising from P7.25 million in 2007 to P88.51 million in 2024.
At the same hearing, the AMLC reported P6.77 billion in covered and suspicious transactions linked to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. Ridon said these figures cannot be dismissed as a matter of presentation.
He also rejected the argument that spreading the transactions over nearly two decades reduces their significance, saying the passage of time does not erase questions about the source of the funds.
Ridon emphasized that the key issue is whether the financial trail aligns with sworn declarations and constitutional requirements for transparency. Any inconsistencies, he said, must be addressed in the proper forum.
He added that explanations from Duterte’s camp have only clouded the issue, and said any defense should be presented during formal proceedings.
According to Ridon, the impeachment process is the appropriate venue to scrutinize AMLC findings, examine documents, and determine accountability.
He said financial records speak for themselves and cannot be overridden by conflicting explanations.