Sara Duterte says undisclosed wealth claims tied to 2028 elections, impeachment case falling apart

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said allegations that she concealed her wealth were tied to the 2028 elections.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier in the day released photos and videos from its surveillance of Duterte real estate properties, which aimed to determine whether their value matched the declaration in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). 

“Napansin ko lang ha, lahat na lang ng illegal ay ipinapahid nila sa akin… Saan ba nagsimula? Confidential funds, corruption. Actually mayroon pa ‘yan silang tried to link us with drugs. So korapsyon, droga, ngayon mayroon silang China funds. Ngayon may ill-gotten wealth. Nag-impeachment na sila, walang ebidensyang lumabas,” Duterte said of the NBI probe. 

“Gusto na nila tapusin yung impeachment prosecution nila dahil bumabagsak na yung kaso kaya nag-iiba na yung kuwento… Lahat na ay ginawa ko kuno. At lahat din ay gagawin din nila para, sinabi ko nga, pabagsakin ako because this is about the 2028 elections,” she said. 

The Senate impeachment court is tackling allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte, who as early as February said she was running for president in 2028. 

On Friday, a financial forensic expert told the Senate impeachment cour that Duterte allegedly amassed P817.87 million in undeclared wealth from 2022 to 2025, based on supposed discrepancies between her declarations in her SALN and records from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and banks where the Vice President and her husband hold accounts. 

Duterte said the impeachment trial was being rushed because the case was already falling apart. She alleged that evidence was being manufactured against her. 

“Bumabagsak na yung kaso nila eh kaya binibilisan, kasi wala na, wala na silang masabi, nag-iimbento ka ng ebidensya,” Duterte said.

“Sa simula pa lang yung impeachment complaint, walang annexes, walang attached pieces of evidence,” she added.

The prosecution is presenting its last witness this week, before trial goes on a three-week break.

The panel has dropped several witnesses in previous articles and will no longer pursue the article on bribery in an effort to shorten the proceedings.

Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said they have established credible evidence and the panel was confident of Duterte’s conviction. 

Meanwhile, Duterte said Monday she believes dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso is being handled by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Gracioso is a former aide of then House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. Gracioso claimed he delivered up to P2 billion to Duterte and P1 billion to her father.

Duterte previously said Gracioso’s testimony comes from the Marcos administration, who is trying to revive the impeachment trial.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dared Duterte to prove that the administration is behind Gracioso’s allegations.

“Hindi ba ang handler ni Gracioso ay yung National Bureau of Investigation? The way that the NBI defends Gracioso and lahat ng sinasabi ni Gracioso, the way NBI protects and handles Gracioso, lalayo pa ba tayo eh kitang kita naman sa actions ng NBI kung paano nila hinahandle si Gracioso,” Duterte said.

“Sila pa nga ang nagde-defend mismo doon sa supposed witness kuno nila,” she said.

The NBI has invited Duterte to a conference to shed light on Gracioso’s allegations.

Duterte earlier said Gracioso was being paid to destroy her, and called all his allegations as lies.