House prosecutor says VP Duterte’s prenup won’t shield undeclared P800 million assets
House prosecutor Terry Ridon said a pre-nuptial agreement will not excuse Vice President Sara Duterte and Manases Carpio from accounting for over P800 million of assets not listed in their SALN.
During a press briefing, House prosecutor Terry Ridon said the pre-nuptial agreement between Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio does not absolve them from declaring all assets under the SALN law, as they filed joint SALNs and tax returns. He pointed out that the couple’s 2023 bank deposits alone surpassed P100 million, while their declared joint net worth was only P80 million, creating a significant discrepancy.
The House impeachment panel has dismissed three of the four articles of impeachment, leaving only the charge of unexplained wealth due to non-disclosure and failure to divest prohibited businesses. Certified public accountant Alex Cabrera’s analysis estimated the couple’s unexplained wealth between P817 million and P1.5 billion. Additionally, AMLC lawyer Ronel Buenaventura identified P4.4 billion in covered and suspicious transactions linked to the pair over an 18-year span. Ridon expects the defense to claim the vice president was unaware of the financial dealings, but he doubts that will suffice.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about financial transparency and possible abuse of public office in the Philippines.
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