Palace dares PCIJ: File charges vs Duterte, kids

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday challenged former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) to file charges against President Duterte and his children if they think the first family has amassed ill-gotten wealth. 

A PCIJ report showed the incomes of Duterte and his children – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and former vice mayor Paolo Duterte – rose significantly while they were in office. 

Duterte, Sara and Paolo have “consistently grown richer over the years” despite the modest salaries they received for holding various government posts and the “negligible” retained earnings from the companies they own or co-own, the report said. 

Citing data from the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) filed by Duterte, the PCIJ said the President’s net worth rose by 195 percent from P9.69 million in 2007 to P28.54 million in 2017.

Paolo’s net worth increased by 233 percent from P8.34 million to P27.74 million two years ago.

Sara’s net worth increased by 518 percent from P7.25 million to P44.83 million. 

Sereno, whose appointment as chief justice was voided for failing to submit some of her SALNs, has asked Duterte to explain the increases in his income. She said government officials should display a simple lifestyle.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the law does not require officials to justify the increases in their income. 

“The law requires public officials to file their SALN. PRRD already did that. The law does not require the filer to explain the increases in their income, if there are,” Panelo said in a text message to The STAR.

“If PCIJ and Sereno believe that the increases are ill-gotten wealth, they should file the appropriate charges,” he added.

Panelo described Sereno’s comments as ludicrous and ironic, saying her appointment as chief justice was voided due to her failure to submit some of her SALNs. 

On Monday, Panelo said Duterte properly declared all his assets. 

“With respect to the wealth being referred to, they have been properly declared as admitted by... that group. What is prohibited is when you do not declare your assets. But he has declared them, so what’s the hullabaloo?” Panelo said at a press briefing in Malacañang. 

“If he did not declare, that’s the time you should be explaining, and you should be prosecuted for not putting that in the SALN,” he added. 

Duterte has criticized the PCIJ over its report, saying what he and his children earned outside the government is none of the media outlet’s business. The President has also accused PCIJ of being “paid hacks.”

The PCIJ has denied that its report was funded by the opposition, saying it also reported about the wealth of previous presidents.

The award-winning news organization said it would have been better had Duterte and his children granted its request for comments and sit-down interviews before the story ran. 

The PCIJ also reported that Duterte formed the Fabiosa, Duterte, Cimafranca, Carcedo Law Firm but the firm never appeared in any of his SALNs.

The report also said that the Carpio & Duterte Lawyers entity, which has presidential daughter and Davao City mayor Sara and husband Manases Carpio as partners, was created over 10 years ago but has not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

Panelo said it was possible that the law firm formed by the President is no longer existing.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the Office of the President (OP) does not have the SALNs requested by PCIJ.

“The SALNs covered by their request have been submitted years before (President Duterte) became president and are not in the possession of the OP,” Medialdea said in a text message. 

He accused Duterte’s critics of nitpicking on the President’s SALN. 

“They have tried to make an issue out of even the minutest detail in hopes to pin the President for some wrongdoing but to their dismay their efforts had all failed,” Medialdea said.