House prosecution panel member and Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon announced that prosecutors will present newly uncovered evidence to substantiate allegations of unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ridon highlighted that as the impeachment trial moves to Article II, the panel will unveil material financial records—including disclosures from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), bank account details, and evidence regarding undeclared firearms—that were not previously made public during earlier House inquiries.
“So ito ’yung artikulong may mga sorpresa,” Ridon said during a media forum on Saturday, August 22.
“Pwede po nating sabihin na ito po ’yung artikulo na talagang merong pong bagong-bagong mga ebidensya,” he added.
Article II charges Duterte with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, asserting that she accumulated wealth grossly disproportionate to her lawful earnings while serving as a public official.
The prosecution team is currently introducing evidence for Article I, which centers on allegations of corruption, constitutional violations, and betrayal of public trust over the controversial usage of confidential funds. The panel has already concluded its presentation on Article IV, which addresses alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Article III—which accuses Duterte of graft, bribery, and constitutional violations involving monetary gifts allegedly distributed to Department of Education officials to bypass procurement regulations—remains to be tackled.
While testimony on confidential funds and bribery will mostly reinforce past House proceedings, Ridon emphasized that Article II will bring unexamined financial data to light.
“Ang hindi na lang po natin nakikita, siyempre, ’yung BIR disclosures at ’yung mga bank accounts,” Ridon noted. “I’m certain pagka po binuksan ’yung BIR at binuksan po ’yung bank accounts, tingin ko marami pa ho tayong makakalkal diyan po sa bagay po na ’yan.”
Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) will serve as the baseline to examine whether her declared wealth aligns with verifiable income. Previous disclosures during House hearings listed her 2024 net worth at ₱88.5 million.
“‘Yun pong BIR documentation, ‘yun po ITRs ng lahat, ng Pangalawang Pangulo, ng kanyang asawa at ng kanilang mga kumpanya, maisasalang po ’yon sa pagre-review,” Ridon said. “So bago pong ebidensya ’yun, wala pong nakalaman pa ho na ’yun up until that point. Pagka po binuksan na po ’yung BIR.”
“Ang pangalawa, ’yung mga bank accounts, ’pag nasalang po ’yon, siyempre, wala ring nakakita pa ng actual na laman ng bank accounts ng Pangalawang Pangulo at ng kanyang asawa,” he explained.
In addition to financial records, prosecutors plan to introduce proof of unreported firearms omitted from Duterte’s mandatory filings.
“Kasi for example, ’yung firearms pa lang ho, bagong ebidensya rin ’yon, ’yung pong non-disclosure of firearms, isasalang,” Ridon stressed. “So tingin ko yun yung mga pinaka-bagong mga ebidensya when we cross into unexplained wealth.”