MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s declared net worth surged by more than P91 million over 18 years, reaching P98.6 million in 2025 from just P7.25 million in 2007, according to statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) presented before the Senate impeachment court.
The sharp increase came under scrutiny as the House prosecution panel sought to establish its allegations that Duterte-Carpio accumulated unexplained wealth and filed inaccurate or incomplete SALNs.
Records presented during Tuesday’s hearing showed Duterte-Carpio’s declared wealth rising steadily since 2007, when she was serving as Davao City vice mayor.
Her reported net worth stood at P49.7 million in 2018 and climbed to P55.61 million in 2019. It increased to P56.58 million in 2020 and P65.31 million in 2021.
The upward trend continued after Duterte-Carpio assumed the vice presidency, with her declared net worth reaching P71.66 million in 2022, P77.51 million in 2023 and P88.51 million in 2024.
For 2025, Duterte-Carpio and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, declared a combined net worth of P98,656,131.20. Their total assets were placed at P122.8 million against liabilities of P24.14 million.
Ombudsman records officer Karen Batu, however, testified that an increase in a public official’s declared net worth does not by itself constitute a violation.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked Batu whether an increase in declared wealth was illegal.
“Sa akin pong palagay po, nagkakaroon po talaga tayo ng increase sa ating mga SALN,” Batu said, citing her experience.
She explained that changes in a person’s assets could be reflected in succeeding SALNs. A property, for instance, may disappear from a declaration after it is sold, while proceeds from the sale could subsequently appear under another asset classification.
Batu further testified that properties or assets received through donations must be declared in the SALN, with “donation” indicated as the mode of acquisition.
The prosecution is seeking to compare Duterte-Carpio’s declared wealth with bank, corporate, tax and property records to support its allegations of unexplained wealth.
House prosecution counsel James Bryan Alih also questioned the absence of acquisition costs for business interests listed in Duterte-Carpio’s SALNs during her first term as Davao City mayor.
“Ano naman yung idineklarang acquisition cost or puhunan noong mga negosyong ito? Medyo marami-rami na rin. Ano yung idineklarang puhunan ng Vice President sa mga negosyong na ito, kung meron man?” Alih asked.
Batu replied that the three SALNs submitted to the impeachment court did not contain declared acquisition costs for the businesses.
“Base dito sa tatlong SALNs, walang naka-declare na acquisition cost,” Batu said.
Alih then observed, “Similarly, may negosyo pero walang puhunan.”
Batu was called by the prosecution to identify and authenticate Duterte-Carpio’s SALNs and other documents in the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Her testimony formed part of proceedings on Article II of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte-Carpio of accumulating unexplained wealth, submitting inaccurate or incomplete SALNs, and maintaining business interests while serving as vice president in alleged violation of the 1987 Constitution./PN
