Escudero OKs showing of VP Duterte’s SALNs from 2007: For baseline only

The Philippine Senate Impeachment Court has allowed the prosecution to present Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2007, or those filed years before her vice presidency, for purposes of establishing a baseline. Senate President Pro Tempore and impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero gave his nod during the resumption of Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday. This move is a significant step in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte, as it will allow for the examination of her financial status prior to her current office. Prosecutors are expected to use these earlier SALN filings to draw comparisons with her current declared assets. In the Philippines, public officials are required to submit SALNs annually to ensure transparency in their dealings. Impeachment trials involving high-ranking officials like the Vice President draw significant public attention, and the documents presented are subject to intense scrutiny. The approval to present these SALNs is likely to influence the trajectory of the trial, with further developments keenly anticipated.