The House prosecution panel has announced it will rigorously examine any prenuptial agreement presented by Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp, focusing on its execution date and provisions to determine if it truly addresses allegations of unexplained wealth.
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers, an adviser to the prosecution team, stated that the mere existence of a marriage settlement between Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, is insufficient to resolve ongoing questions regarding her financial disclosures.
“Susuriin ng ating prosecution team ang mga ebidensyang kanilang ihaharap,” Barbers said during a press conference on Tuesday, October 27.
According to Barbers, prosecutors will investigate whether the document was pre-existing or created retroactively, emphasizing that the panel must evaluate the agreement’s specific terms and surrounding circumstances.
“Kailangan open sila sa ganung mga tanong,” he noted.
Barbers added that even a valid prenuptial pact will not automatically settle other pending concerns, notably discrepancies in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). While a complete separation of property can exempt spouses from joint SALN disclosures under Supreme Court and Civil Service Commission guidelines, its applicability depends entirely on the covered assets and terms.
Furthermore, Barbers challenged the defense’s explanation regarding Duterte’s bank deposits, which were allegedly grouped under “other personal properties.”
He pointed out that the prosecution’s recorded bank holdings for Duterte in 2024 reached ₱22.24 million, whereas her SALN listed only ₱21.13 million under the “others” category.
These financial inconsistencies form part of Article II, the sole remaining impeachment charge against Duterte, which covers allegations of unexplained wealth, asset disclosure violations, and prohibited business interests.
The defense is scheduled to present its evidence on November 9.