THE House of Representatives prosecution panel on Monday said it is halfway through presenting evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte over allegations of unexplained wealth, with more significant testimonies.
House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution has completed around half of its presentation under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which focuses on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.
‘We can say that we are already about halfway through,’ Chua said during a press briefing.
Chua said the prosecution is building its case through various records, including Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), corporate documents, and government records.
‘It is like a puzzle that we are gradually putting together to determine the extent of the Vice President’s wealth,’ he said.
The prosecution has presented Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2025, which showed her declared net worth increasing from about P7.25 million in 2007 to P98.66 million in 2025. Chua said the records would be compared to determine how her wealth grew over the years.
‘This will be compared with what she declared in her SALN and how her wealth increased from 2007 until 2025,’ Chua said.
Earlier witnesses testified on Duterte’s declared business interests, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records, and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) documents.
The records showed that the company that Duterte admitted having interest, Gencorp, received 49 government awards amounting to P35.878 million.
The prosecution said company revenue must be distinguished from personal income, noting that SEC records presented during the hearings did not show dividends distributed to Gencorp shareholders. Prosecutors said additional records would be needed to determine whether lawful income sources explain Duterte’s declared wealth.
Chua also questioned whether Duterte’s declared net worth of P98.66 million represents the full extent of her assets. ‘Is this already the complete amount, or is there more wealth that was not declared?’ he said.
House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers also said allegations involving cash-filled suitcases delivered to Duterte may be considered as additional evidence if supported by an investigation. ‘If there is evidence that can be presented, it may be used as additional evidence under Article II regarding unexplained wealth,’ Barbers said.
The allegation was raised by former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed he delivered suitcases containing cash to Duterte on instructions from former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on more than 20 occasions, with the total amount allegedly exceeding P2 billion. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is currently reviewing the claims.
Duterte denied the accusations, saying she does not know Gracioso and never received money from him. She said her lawyers were waiting for an official copy of his affidavit and were preparing legal action, while Velasco’s camp also rejected the allegations.
Barbers said prosecutors are examining whether Duterte’s declared sources of income can explain the increase in her net worth since she entered government service. ‘There must be a justification for the increase in the vice president’s net worth from 2007, when she entered government service, until 2025, when she declared nearly P99 million,’ he said.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte is scheduled to testify in the impeachment trial after requesting additional time to prepare subpoenaed documents. The Senate Impeachment Court granted his request, allowing him to appear on Tuesday and Wednesday. Prosecutors said they will question him about Duterte’s declared business interests and Davao City transactions related to the case.
After Mayor Duterte’s testimony, the House prosecution expects to present four to six additional witnesses. The panel is also considering calling lawyer Manases Carpio, Duterte’s husband, as a witness because his name appears in financial and corporate records being examined under Article II.
Before former senator Antonio Trillanes IV testifies, prosecutors will first present officials from the Land Registration Authority, Register of Deeds, and Anti-Money Laundering Council. The prosecution is also preparing land records, AMLC reports, and bank documents from around 10 banks, which may require authentication by bank representatives if the defense does not agree to their validity.