Ombudsman starts probe into Sara Duterte’s SALN ‘discrepancy’

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said it is conducting a fact-finding investigation into the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on an alleged discrepancy in Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“That will undergo fact-finding first. So, it’s a process where we validate the facts that are being presented to us. We need to validate and evaluate them. So, it’s fact-finding,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said during a news briefing in Cebu when asked for an update.

On Oct. 13, the NBI referred its findings on the alleged discrepancy in Duterte’s SALN to the Ombudsman. The referral covered its fact-finding investigation report on Duterte’s SALNs for 2024 and 2025, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

READ: NBI refers alleged discrepancy in Sara Duterte SALN to Ombudsman

Matibag said the bureau’s investigation focused on a property in Catigan, Davao City, that allegedly belongs to Duterte. He said the property was declared as agricultural land worth only P890,000, but NBI agents estimated its value at P50 million to P60 million after an inspection.

Following the referral, the Office of the Ombudsman will conduct further case buildup, which could lead to the filing of charges if warranted.

Duterte had previously denied owning the property that the NBI linked to her and her brother, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte.

She said the property cited by Matibag did not belong to her and described the allegation as “deception.” She also said this was why the NBI had been removed from the list of witnesses the prosecution planned to present in the impeachment proceedings.

Matibag, in response, said he was “not surprised” by the vice president’s denial but stressed that “the evidence is clear.” /das