Vice President Sara Duterte is under scrutiny following allegations of unexplained wealth revealed during impeachment hearings. These proceedings have raised doubts about her financial integrity, with critics asserting that discrepancies in her bank transactions and net worth declarations could lead to her removal from office.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) confirmed that between 2006 and 2025, Duterte and her husband Mans Carpio were involved in suspicious transactions totaling P6.77 billion. This figure stems from both covered transaction reports (CTR) and suspicious transaction reports (STR), which are mandated by law for large transactions.
Billions in Transactions
According to the AMLC’s own financial intelligence analysis, these unusual and multi-million transactions can be linked to three predicate crimes of money laundering.
Senator Leila de Lima
The Duterte camp has challenged the findings, noting that a glitch caused the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to incorrectly report P2.3 billion in CTRs, claiming the accurate figure was P2.1 million. However, the AMLC has not altered the total reported transactions.
From 2006 to 2025, Duterte's accounts alone showed inflows of P3.7 billion. Despite this, her declared net worth averaged P42 million over 15 years, peaking at P88 million in 2024. Notably, she reported zero cash deposits from 2019 to 2024.
Questionable Financial Declarations
Duterte's financial records have come under fire for inconsistencies. Critics point out her lack of cash declarations during her time in office, questioning why these figures were lumped under 'others' in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Cash is king…you cannot lump solid assets with liquid assets.
Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza
Additionally, allegations have surfaced regarding payments received by the Duterte family from businessman Samuel Uy, who is accused of drug trafficking. Senate hearings revealed the Vice President allegedly received P22.3 million from 2011 to 2013.
Business Dealings Under Scrutiny
Further investigation into Duterte's business ventures reveals that many companies listed in her SALNs are either operating at a loss or generating profits inconsistent with her substantial bank transactions.
The impeachment articles against Sara Duterte outline these allegations as potential violations of public trust and constitutional breaches, raising the stakes for the Vice President's political future.