A lawmaker dismissed claims of a 'fishing expedition' in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment, likening the evidence to a whale. He cited P6.77 billion in financial records of Duterte and her husband. These stem from documentary evidence presented in hearings.
MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon dismissed innuendos from Vice President Sara Duterte's camp of a so-called “fishing expedition” in her impeachment complaints. “We saw not just a shark here, what we actually saw during the hearings was a whale where we have been discussing about the P6.77-billion total assets of the Duterte couple,” Ridon said of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.
“This is not just speculation. These are all based on documentary evidence and bank records that have been laid out during the impeachment hearings,” he noted. The figures from clarificatory hearings include P6.77 billion in total bank transactions: P4.4 billion in inflows, P1.5 billion in outflows not reflected in statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, and P2.8 billion in remaining balances also undeclared.
Ridon stressed that the financial trail, backed by official records and sworn testimony from government agencies, provides a solid evidentiary foundation, countering defense claims of an exploratory inquiry.
Meanwhile, Duterte and Carpio’s legal team is preparing for the issue of their sealed tax records, likely to arise in the Senate impeachment trial. Michael Poa, spokesperson for the 16-man defense team, told True FM that the Vice President's camp did not oppose opening them; the Bureau of Internal Revenue did, citing tax code provisions.
