The Senate impeachment court will continue proceedings on Day 25 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, focusing on Article II, which covers allegations of “Unexplained Wealth, False SALNs, and Continued Business Interests.”
The House prosecution panel is set to present Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Records Division of the Office of the Ombudsman, who is expected to testify on Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) records.
Trial begins
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 25th day with 17 senator judges in attendance.
Senator Bong Go led the opening prayer as the Senate impeachment court resumed proceedings. Go said he is “for unity, for healing of this country.”
Atty. Karen Batu takes witness stand as prosecution's witness
Ombudsman records officer Atty. Karen Batu took her oath as a witness. She is set to identify and authenticate Duterte’s SALNs and other relevant Ombudsman records.
Prosecution began its direct examination on the witness
House private prosecutor Atty. James Bryan Ibrahim Alih began the direct examination of Atty. Karen Batu
Batu questioned on Duterte’s business declarations
House private prosecutor Atty. James Bryan Ibrahim Alih asked Ombudsman records officer Atty. Karen Batu whether Vice President Sara Duterte declared businesses without corresponding capital in her SALNs.
Batu said Duterte’s 2007 SALN had no declared stocks or acquisition costs, while her 2008 SALN listed paid stock equity and her 2009 SALN had no declared stocks.
SALNs show no acquisition cost for some businesses
Some businesses linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, had no recorded acquisition costs in their SALNs presented during the impeachment trial on Tuesday, September 15.
The hearing presented Duterte’s declared businesses based on SALN records from 2007 to 2025.
Batu confirms no cash declared in SALNs
Ombudsman records officer Atty. Karen Batu confirmed that Vice President Sara Duterte declared no cash on hand or cash in bank from 2019 to 2025. The information was based on Duterte’s SALNs presented during the impeachment trial on Tuesday, September 15.
