Police firearms expert testifies about over 50 guns linked to Sara Duterte and husband
A Philippine National Police firearms officer swore in as a prosecution witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, detailing more than 50 weapons owned by her and lawyer Manases Carpio.
During the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, PMaj. Joericson Sangalang of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office took an oath to serve as a prosecution witness. He presented evidence that Duterte and her husband, attorney Manases Carpio, possess upwards of 50 firearms. The combined value of the arsenal is reported to be at least P7 million. The testimony is part of the Article II phase of the trial held in Manila.
Why it matters
The testimony could influence the outcome of the vice president's impeachment by exposing alleged undisclosed firearms holdings.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames the testimony as evidence of undisclosed firearms and possible illicit wealth by the vice president and her husband, while centrist coverage frames the same testimony as a trigger for a broader debate on the country's gun-ownership laws.
LEFT
Frames the gun ownership revelation as a corruption issue, stressing the failure to declare the weapons in the official asset statement.
CENTER
Frames the revelation as a catalyst for reviewing and potentially tightening gun-ownership legislation.
The left emphasises
- the prosecution presented 51 guns worth about P7 million that were not declared in the vice president’s SALN
- senators were unimpressed by the evidence
- the testimony is part of the impeachment trial
In this story
Related stories
14 in this thread