Adiong: VP Sara unexplained wealth case also an issue of 'tax evasion'
The alleged discrepancy between Vice President Sara Duterte's declared net worth and her alleged undisclosed income could deem her liable for a case of tax evasion, a lawmaker said.
House trial spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong made the assertion Thursday, as he recalled the evidence that was presented by prosecutors in the impeachment trial of the Vice President at the Senate.
A particular finding that he cited came from the report of financial expert Atty. Alexander Cabrera, who said that Duterte had an undeclared income of P111.85 million between the period of 2022 to 2025.
"This is not only an issue of non-disclosure or unexplained wealth. This is also an issue of tax evasion," Adiong said in a press conference at the House of Representatives.
Cabrera stated during his testimony at the Senate that he found inflows to the bank accounts of the Vice President amounting to P174.96 million, more than double the income that Duterte declared which amounted to P63.11 million.
It is worth noting that the financial expert considered both accounts of the Vice President and her husband, Atty. Manases "Mans" Carpio.
The P111.85 discrepancy formed part of the P817.8 million in unexplained wealth and undeclared assets that he testified before the Senate.
Even with the deficiencies, Adiong maintained that the panel was still open to hearing the explanation that Duterte had to offer for the accusations.
He, however, pointed out that the evidence and testimonies of the witnesses that they presented were clear and that there was a lack of declaration of her assets, particularly with the companies she had business interests in.
"It is very clear with what we saw and heard from the evidence and the testimony that there was really a clear failure to declare the correct income of the [Vice President]," Adiong said.
The impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte is set to resume on 9 November, where her defense lawyers are set to begin their presentation of counter evidence to the allegations in Article II of the impeachment.