MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has accused the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of misleading the public after investigators released photographs and videos of properties allegedly linked to her family, including a parcel of land she categorically denied owning.
In a statement sent to Panay News, Duterte-Carpio disputed the NBI’s reported findings concerning properties suspected of being undervalued or misdeclared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
The controversy erupted after the NBI on Monday released images of properties allegedly associated with the Vice President and her family, some of which were reportedly declared as agricultural land despite having large residential structures, swimming pools and helipads.
Duterte-Carpio, however, rejected the supposed connection between her SALN and one of the properties shown by investigators.
“Ang lote sa larawan na sinabi niyang nasa aking Statement of Assets, Liability, and Net Worth o SALN ay hindi sa akin,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The Vice President also questioned the credibility of the NBI’s investigation, accusing the agency of presenting questionable evidence and misleading the public.
“Ang ganitong panlilinlang sa publiko ay ang dahilan kung bakit inalis ang NBI sa listahan ng mga testigong ihaharap ng prosekusyon sa impeachment proceedings — dahil sa mga alegasyon na muli na naman silang naglahad ng mga ebidensiyang kuwestiyonable tulad noong Gracioso affidavit,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio was apparently referring to former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who alleged that he delivered cash to members of the Duterte family upon the instructions of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
The Vice President has denied Gracioso’s allegations, which had also become the subject of an NBI investigation.
Her latest statement raises questions about the accuracy of the property information being examined by investigators, particularly whether the assets under scrutiny are actually owned by her or properly attributable to her SALN.
The NBI has yet to establish publicly, based on the information available in the report, whether the disputed property belongs to Duterte-Carpio or whether any misdeclaration occurred.
Beyond denying ownership, Duterte-Carpio demanded accountability from government investigative agencies, stressing that their operations must be grounded in factual evidence, legal procedures and the public interest.
“Kung pera ng taumbayan ang ginagamit sa pagpapatakbo ng isang ahensiya, nararapat lamang na tiyakin na ang bawat hakbang nito ay naaayon sa batas, nakabatay sa katotohanan, at nagsisilbi sa interes ng sambayanan,” she said.
The dispute adds another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding the Vice President’s declared assets as questions over property ownership and valuation continue to figure in allegations against her./PN
