APRIL 22, 2026 — Vice President Sara Duterte’s SALNs from 2019 to 2024 show no declared cash on hand or bank deposits, despite her net worth surging to ₱88.5 million by 2024. This glaring omission has fueled suspicions of hidden wealth and intensified her impeachment hearings.

From 2007 to 2018, Duterte consistently declared cash holdings ranging from ₱2 million to ₱6.3 million. But starting in 2019, her SALNs suddenly listed zero cash on hand or in banks — a pattern that continued through 2024. Yet her net worth ballooned from ₱55.6 million in 2019 to ₱88.5 million in 2024.

During a House justice committee hearing, Ombudsman lawyer Karen Batu confirmed, “Based on the submitted SALNs, wala pong nakalagay na cash on hand or bank deposits … wala pong nakalagay your honor.” 

(Based on the submitted SALNs, there was no cash on hand or bank deposits).

Rep. Joel Chua quipped, “Eh, di wow,” after hearing that not even a single peso was declared.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) revealed that Duterte and her husband Mans Carpio had ₱6.7 billion worth of covered and suspicious transactions between 2006 and 2025, including ₱230 million from 2019 to 2024 — precisely the years when her SALNs showed no cash.

Rep. Leila de Lima warned, “Ang ganitong biglaang pagbabago sa paraan ng pag-uulat ng liabilities ay lubhang kahinahinala at dapat siyasatin.” 

(Such sudden changes in reporting liabilities are highly suspicious and must be investigated).

Critics argue that the unexplained surge in net worth, coupled with missing liquid assets, undermines the credibility of Duterte’s financial disclosures.

A public official’s SALN is supposed to be a safeguard against corruption — a transparency tool ensuring they don’t enrich themselves in secret. When a sitting Vice President shows no declared cash for six straight years, yet her wealth keeps climbing, it raises uncomfortable questions:

How can a public servant’s net worth grow without visible liquid assets?

Are SALNs still reliable instruments of accountability?

What message does this send to citizens struggling with rising costs of living while leaders appear shielded from scrutiny?

And if the SALN system itself can be bent or bypassed, then who really holds our leaders accountable?

(Image: Inday Sara Duterte | Facebook)