MANILA — Philippine House lawmakers broadened their impeachment investigation into Vice-President Sara Duterte on April 22, delving into her financial records and questioning her failure to report any cash holdings or bank balances for six straight years.
The justice committee hearing spotlighted Ms. Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth, which showed no liquid assets declared from 2019 to 2024 despite her net worth climbing from 55.6 million pesos (S$1.9 million) to 88.5 million pesos over that span. Representative Leila de Lima, who spearheaded an impeachment complaint, declared the “sudden and sustained disappearance” of such declarations raised serious doubts about the completeness of her filings.
Ms. Duterte’s office offered no immediate response to the probe’s findings. Her legal team insists no grounds exist for impeachment, rejecting claims of assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and misuse of public funds, allegations tied to their ruptured 2022 election alliance amid policy clashes and public spats.
The House previously forced the Ombudsman to release her asset reports and summoned the anti-money laundering body. Past probes into hidden wealth have toppled officials via impeachment.
This marks the second impeachment push against Ms. Duterte, who eyes the presidency in 2028 after Marcos’s term ends. A similar 2025 House impeachment was tossed by the Senate on Supreme Court procedural grounds.