Sara Duterte Declared No Cash on Hand, in Bank for Seven Years - Witness

Vice President Sara Duterte did not declare any cash on hand and in bank from 2019 to 2025, based on her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), Office of the Ombudsman Records Division officer-in-charge Karen Batu said Tuesday. During her direct examination, Batu, a witness presented by the House prosecution panel, enumerated the cash declarations of Duterte from 2007 to 2018. Come 2019, she said that Duterte did not declare any cash on hand nor cash in bank in her SALN. She said same goes for her 2020 SALN. “To expedite the proceedings so that we can finish this, madam witness, tuloy na lang po natin. Onwards, ano po ‘yung cash declarations ng ating Vice President after 2020, kung meron man?” Private prosecutor James Bryan Alih asked. Batu answered, “For SALNs 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, wala pong naka-declare na (there was no declared) cash on hand or in bank.” To recall, Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for the Vice President’s defense team, previously explained that Duterte had no cash on hand declared in her official SALNs since 2019 because it was "lumped" under the “others” line item. Poa said that Duterte’s cash in bank and even jewelry were also “lumped” all together under that specific line item. Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on Monday said that cash on hand and cash in bank of government officials must be separately declared in the SALN and must not be lumped together with other properties. This revelation highlights the importance of transparency and strict adherence to declaration rules for public officials in the Philippines. The financial declarations of individuals in high-ranking positions, such as the Vice President, are under intense public scrutiny, demanding a high degree of accountability. The defense's explanation that these assets were consolidated under the 'others' category will be a key point of discussion moving forward. Asset disclosure for public officials is a critical anti-corruption measure in the Philippines, and accurate SALN filings are essential for maintaining public trust. Information Source: GMA News Philippines