NBI probes 121 Duterte properties over alleged SALN discrepancies

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing 121 properties linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, Rep. Paolo Duterte, over discrepancies in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Monday, October 12, that the probe stemmed from an affidavit by dismissed police officer Rudolfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed to have delivered suitcases of cash to the vice president.

Of the 121 properties linked to the Duterte family, 24 were declared in Sara Duterte’s SALN, Matibag said.

Alleged land banking

According to Matibag, citing Gracioso’s affidavit, several properties were declared as low-value agricultural land, but physical verification revealed high-end developments.

“Sagutin natin sa tao na bakit nag-declare tayo sa ating SALN na agricultural property, agricultural land property, may nakatayo pa lang mansion,” Matibag said in a press conference, referring to the Dutertes.

(Let us answer to the public why we declared in our SALN that it was an agricultural land property when a mansion is actually standing on it.)

“So, ito malinaw na 'yung pag hindi pag-de-declare pa lang ng tama sa SALN, meron na tayo dapat panagutan dito,” he added.

(So, this makes it clear that failing to declare correctly in the SALN alone is already grounds for accountability.)

Matibag cited a property in Barangay Catigan that was declared in the SALN with a value of only P890,000.

However, the NBI chief claimed that independent assessments and physical inspections by licensed property appraisers revealed that the actual value of the property, which features a mansion, swimming pools and a helipad, ranges from P14 million to P61 million.

The bureau also mentioned several properties in Samal and Davao.

Matibag said the bureau was drawing parallels with a previously established pattern in which large deliveries of money were allegedly used to acquire resorts, hotels, luxury villages and other real properties, as mentioned in Gracioso’s affidavit.

He added that all the initial reports obtained would be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.

In response to the NBI's findings, Duterte said that every allegation against her was anchored on her announcement of her intention to run for president in the 2028 elections.

"Alam niyo napansin ko lang ha, lahat nalang ng illegal ay pinahid nila sa akin," Duterte said.

(You know, I've just noticed that they blame every single illegal thing on me.)