VP camp ready to explain bank records

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed confidence that it can explain her bank balances as the Senate impeachment court started digging into her bank records and those of her husband Manases Carpio.

“We’re ready with our response and we are confident that we will be able to address any issues they may have regarding these bank balances,” defense spokesman Michael Poa said yesterday.

Poa issued the statement after the House prosecution panel said Duterte has 30 active accounts containing P190 million or way above the P13.32 million that was declared in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

During the Senate impeachment trial, details on the bank accounts of the Vice President and Carpio were made public as the House prosecutors moved to pin her down for alleged unexplained wealth under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

The Duterte couple’s accounts held more than P59 million in 2022, more than P71 million in 2023, more than P22 million in 2024 and more than P35 million in 2025.

The financial records were gathered from eight banks between 2022 and 2025. The information on her bank records emerged yesterday on Day 34 of her impeachment trial.

Unaware?

The defense maintained that the bank records that were presented before the impeachment court do not show that the Vice President was aware of the bank accounts.

During cross-examination of prosecution witness Philippine Savings Bank (PSB) bank operations department head Irene Joy Ishida, defense lawyer Lindon Miguel Bacquel asked if the bank records would not show whether the funds in the accounts were held for another person or entity.

“Yes, Sir,” Ichida said.

In her testimony, Ishida said there were two bank accounts under the name of Duterte and Carpio with a combined deposit of P2.448 million as of 2025.

Defense lawyer Justin Gular objected to the flashing of the total amounts on the bank accounts of Duterte and Carpio on the screen.

“Since several bank officials will be presented, they don’t have personal knowledge on all those bank accounts. But you can include the total per year per account,” presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero said in directing the prosecution panel.

Bribery

The plan to drop the bribery charges against Duterte is the prerogative of the House prosecution team, according to the defense.

Poa, however, said they are still awaiting the formal manifestation of the prosecution.

“I don’t want to speculate what the prosecution will do because that is the prosecution’s prerogative. Of course, we have already prepared all of this. But again, if there will be adjustments, if they drop the bribery (charges), then that’s a prerogative and we have no right to oppose it,” Poa said during a press conference on Tuesday.?Malacañang is unsure whether the House prosecutors would be shortchanging the public if it decides to drop the bribery charges against the Vice President.

While acknowledging that the trial strategy rests with the House prosecutors, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the inclusion of the bribery allegation in the Articles of Impeachment meant that the prosecution panel had sufficient evidence to back it up before the impeachment court.

“If the prosecution is about to finish presenting their evidence in chief, then we at the defense, we just need to prepare for our turn to present our evidence in chief. So, if the end is near, then we are OK with that,” Poa added.

House prosecutors hinted that they would drop the bribery charges against Duterte during the resumption of trial this week.?“From our end and as we see it, we have been able to prove three articles already and we think that is enough, so at least the trial will not continue into next year,” House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said in a radio interview over the weekend.?“We are confident the three articles are enough to render justice to the Filipino people,” fellow prosecutor and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong noted.

VP’s affidavit

The Vice President will submit her sworn affidavit today after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) asked her to answer the allegations of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered suitcases of cash to members of the Duterte family.

“I strongly deny the statements of Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. in his sworn statement and media interviews,” Duterte said.

Duterte said part of her sworn affidavit was her response to Gracioso’s claim that she went to Marinduque during Holy Week of 2019.

“First, (staff Jeffrey) Tupas was in Korea on April 18 to 22, 2019. Second, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago did not campaign and I did not endorse in Marinduque in 2019 because Lord said that he and Presbitero Velasco have no strong opponents,” Duterte said.

Gracioso said the former president received about P1 billion from 2018 until the end of his term in 2022.