The prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte said the defense must directly address alleged financial discrepancies and some P817.87 million in unexplained wealth rather than rely solely on witness testimony.
House prosecution adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers made the statement in response to reports that Duterte’s legal team had identified more than 90 potential witnesses for the resumption of the Senate impeachment trial on Nov. 9.
Barbers said the prosecution’s case is anchored on official records, including bank documents, tax records, corporate filings, and sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
“Talagang mahihirapan silang i-rebut o i-dispute ’yang mga ebidensyang ipinakikita natin sa impeachment court,” Barbers said during a press briefing.
He emphasized that the key issue is whether the defense can reconcile Duterte’s sworn financial declarations with records obtained from banks and government agencies.
At the center of the case is the alleged P817.87 million in undeclared assets and unexplained wealth identified by forensic financial expert Alexander Cabrera during his review of the financial records of Duterte and her husband from 2022 to 2025.
Barbers questioned how the defense would dispute the documentary evidence presented before the Senate impeachment court.
“’Yung records ba ng bangko, magbabago ba ’yan? Meron ba silang ipi-present na witness na sasabihin mali ’yung outstanding balances na iyan?” he said.
Cabrera previously testified that the alleged unexplained wealth could reach nearly P1.5 billion under a broader computation, although both estimates remain subject to the Senate impeachment court’s evaluation.
The prosecution has also highlighted what it described as discrepancies between the couple’s year-end bank balances and Duterte’s SALN declarations.
According to the prosecution, the couple’s combined bank balances totaled about P59 million in 2022, P71 million in 2023, P22 million in 2024, and P39 million in 2025. These figures exceeded the amounts declared under “other personal properties” in Duterte’s SALNs., which were approximately P13 million in 2022, P14 million in 2023, P21.13 million in 2024, and P29 million in 2025.
Barbers earlier argued that even if all amounts listed as other personal properties were assumed to be cash, the declarations would still not fully account for the bank balances identified by the prosecution.
The prosecution has also raised questions about whether insurance policies, investments, and 51 registered firearms valued at about P7.22 million were properly disclosed in Duterte’s SALNs.
Barbers said the discrepancies require clear explanations because SALNs are sworn documents that public officials are required by law to file.
The panel has likewise questioned Duterte’s corporate interests, business transactions, and properties in Davao City and Samal Island, including whether such interests were properly disclosed and divested in accordance with the law.
He added that the public has a right to know whether the Vice President’s financial declarations accurately reflect her actual assets and wealth.
The defense, however, has disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the records, maintaining that some of the questioned assets were already included in Duterte’s declarations.
Spokesperson Michael Poa also clarified that the more than 90 identified witnesses include reserve witnesses who may not all be called to testify.
The Senate impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on Nov. 9, with the defense expected to present witnesses and evidence on Article II, the remaining charge involving alleged unexplained wealth, inaccurate asset declarations, and prohibited business interests.
The prosecution has completed its presentation of evidence and formally rested its case. The Senate impeachment court has yet to rule on the merits of the remaining impeachment charge. ||
