VP: Tackle SALN issues in court, before ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday said the Senate impeachment court and the Office of the Ombudsman are the proper forums to answer allegations that she failed to declare properties linked to her family.

“Regarding my statement of assets and liabilities, it is already a subject of the impeachment. And it has also been submitted to the ombudsman. So, these are the proper forums where it would be better for us to give our answers and explanations. Rather than having to answer to (National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin) Attorney Matibag,” Duterte said in Zamboanga City on Thursday night.

Matibag said the investigation had moved beyond the affidavit of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. and is now focused on properties declared in Duterte’s SALN.

Duterte maintained the claims of Matibag that she owns properties were inaccurate. “I’m not interested in him. No one is interested in Attorney Matibag. He’s a nobody,” Duterte added.

Mr. Nobody

In response, Matibag affirmed what the Vice President had said. “Well, that’s true – if the basis is mansions, businesses and companies receiving funds from Chinese state-owned companies,” the NBI director said. “I’m really a nobody.”

Matibag has challenged Duterte to file a case if she believes that the NBI is biased in its investigation on properties linked to her family, adding that the NBI inquiry is backed by official records and evidence.

He noted that the NBI obtained copies of the titles from the Land Registration Authority, visited the properties based on their descriptions, conducted geotagging and interviewed residents to verify ownership.

Matibag also cited an agricultural land in Catigan, Davao City, which he said was declared in Duterte’s SALN at a combined assessed value of about P890,000. He questioned the valuation after investigators documented the property.

In response, Duterte’s camp described the NBI’s probe as “the latest example of the Marcos administration’s weaponization of government institutions for political persecution.”

“That is not the work of a fair and impartial investigative body. That is a shameless smear campaign against the Vice President using public funds, headlined by a man with a documented conflict of interest against her,” Duterte’s spokesman Paolo Panelo said.

Meanwhile, Duterte thanked the public following the recent surveys showing continued majority trust and approval ratings despite the ongoing Senate impeachment hearings on corruption and unexplained wealth allegations.

She continues to enjoy much higher trust and approval ratings than President Marcos, a Pulse Asia survey from Sept. 17 to 24 showed.

Duterte retained a majority of trust and approval ratings, despite dropping from 58 percent to 55 percent, while those who distrust her remained at 27 percent. Undecided respondents increased from 16 percent to 19 percent.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said his office will look into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds by  Duterte for possible filing of cases before the Sandiganbayan. — Roel Pareño, EJ Macabbabad, Daphne Galvez