Ninety-one witnesses may not be enough to explain away the financial discrepancies and alleged P817.87 million in unexplained wealth involving Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, House prosecution adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers said as he challenged the defense to confront the official records presented before the Senate impeachment court.
Barbers said the prosecution’s case rests not on speculation but on bank records, tax documents, corporate filings, and sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), including declarations made by Duterte herself.
“Talagang mahihirapan silang i-rebut o i-dispute ’yang mga ebidensyang ipinakikita natin sa impeachment court,” Barbers said in a press briefing.
The prosecution spokesperson was responding to reports that Duterte’s defense team had identified more than 90 potential witnesses ahead of the November 9 resumption of the impeachment trial.
“Galing po ito mismo sa kampo ng ating Bise Presidente,” he added, stressing that the prosecution had relied on financial declarations and other official documents.
Barbers maintained that the real challenge for the defense is not the number of witnesses it can produce but whether it can reconcile Duterte’s sworn declarations with the financial records obtained from banks and government agencies.
At the center of the controversy is the ₱817.87 million in allegedly undeclared assets and unexplained wealth identified by forensic financial expert Atty. Alexander Cabrera in his examination of the couple’s financial records from 2022 to 2025.
“’Yung records ba ng bangko, magbabago ba ’yan? Meron ba silang ipi-present na witness na sasabihin mali ’yung outstanding balances na iyan?” Barbers challenged, questioning how the defense intends to dispute the financial records presented before the Senate impeachment court.
Cabrera earlier testified that the amount could reach nearly P1.5 billion under a broader computation, although both estimates remain subject to the impeachment court’s assessment.
Barbers also revisited the prosecution’s findings on the couple’s combined year-end bank balances, which reached approximately P59 million in 2022, P71 million in 2023, P22 million in 2024, and P39 million in 2025.
These figures raised questions when compared with Duterte’s SALN declarations under other personal properties, amounting to about P13 million in 2022, P14 million in 2023, P21.13 million in 2024, and P29 million in 2025.
“Now, even if we assume all of VP Sara’s other personal properties sa kanyang SALN were cash, kulang pa rin at malaki pa rin ang undeclared,” Barbers previously said stressing that the amounts reported under other personal properties remained insufficient to account for the bank balances identified by the prosecution.
The prosecution has also questioned whether insurance policies, investments, and 51 registered firearms valued at approximately P7.22 million were properly reflected in Duterte’s sworn declarations.
Barbers emphasized that these discrepancies require clear explanations, especially because a SALN is a sworn document that public officials are legally required to submit.
The prosecution has likewise raised questions about Duterte’s corporate interests, business transactions, and properties in Davao City and Samal Island, including whether her financial interests were properly disclosed and divested as required by law.
“May mga rekord ba na nagpapatunay na inalis na niya ang sarili niya sa mga negosyong iyon?” Barbers asked, pressing for documentary proof concerning Duterte’s business interests.
Barbers stressed that Filipinos have a right to know whether the Vice President’s financial declarations accurately reflect her wealth.
“Meron pong karapatan ang ating mga mamamayan sa isang malinaw at buong paliwanag na magmumula sa kampo ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo,” he said.
The defense has disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the records, maintaining that certain assets were already included in Duterte’s declarations. Defense spokesperson Michael Poa has also clarified that the more than 90 identified witnesses include reserve witnesses who may not all be called to testify.
Barbers said the prosecution was prepared to hear the defense’s explanations when proceedings resume.
“So these are the things na dapat talaga ay maipaliwanag ng defense,” he said.
The Senate impeachment trial resumes on November 9, with the defense expected to present its witnesses and evidence concerning Article II, the remaining charge involving alleged unexplained wealth, inaccurate asset declarations, and prohibited business interests.
