Manila Representative Joel Chua has presented evidence suggesting that Vice President Sara Duterte may have misused confidential funds and amassed unexplained wealth.
Chua referenced various government documents, including Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and Commission on Audit (COA) notices.
While the House committee on justice has found probable cause, Chua emphasized that this does not equate to a guilty verdict. He stated that Duterte must provide counter-evidence to disprove the allegations.
Chua raised concerns about discrepancies in Duterte's SALN, noting that from 2007 to 2018, she declared millions in cash on hand and bank deposits, but reported zero amounts from 2019 to 2024.
Discrepancies in Financial Declarations
Chua questioned the explanation that cash entries were consolidated under 'others,' stating that the total for one year was only P5.8 million. In contrast, AMLC data indicated P6.7 billion in suspicious bank transactions.
How do you reconcile the two? What mathematical computation would you apply?
Rep. Joel Chua
He further argued that even considering a typical government official's salary trajectory, the financial figures reported by Duterte do not align.
Chua noted that SEC records showed businesses linked to Duterte and her husband reported minimal earnings or losses, raising questions about their financial sources.
Concerns Over Confidential Funds
On the matter of confidential funds, Chua cited a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) certification indicating that many beneficiaries listed in receipts lacked proper civil registry records.
He also pointed to audit findings revealing notices of disallowance involving P73 million in confidential funds for late 2022 and P375 million for early 2023.
Chua highlighted that the first notice had already become final after the Office of the Vice President's appeal was denied by the Commission Proper.
The findings from the Committee on Good Government also indicated discrepancies in the funding of the Department of Education's activities.
The evidence presented by Chua has been crucial in the ongoing impeachment deliberations against Sara Duterte, with a plenary vote scheduled for May 11.