VP Camp Ready To Explain Bank Records

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte expressed confidence that it can explain her bank balances as the Senate impeachment court started digging into her bank records and those of her husband Manases Carpio. 

“We’re ready with our response and we are confident that we will be able to address any issues they may have regarding these bank balances,” defense spokesman Michael Poa said on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 

Poa issued the statement after the House prosecution panel said Duterte has 30 active accounts containing P190 million or way above the P13.32 million that was declared in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). 

During the Senate impeachment trial, details on the bank accounts of the Vice President and Carpio were made public as the House prosecutors moved to pin her down for alleged unexplained wealth under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

The Duterte couple’s accounts held more than P59 million in 2022, more than P71 million in 2023, more than P22 million in 2024 and more than P35 million in 2025.

The financial records were gathered from eight banks between 2022 and 2025. The information on her bank records emerged on Day 35 of her impeachment trial on Wednesday.

‘Sara Duterte unaware’

The defense maintained that the bank records that were presented before the impeachment court do not show that the Vice President was aware of the bank accounts. 

During cross-examination of prosecution witness Philippine Savings Bank (PSB) bank operations department head Irene Joy Ishida, defense lawyer Lindon Miguel Bacquel asked if the bank records would not show whether the funds in the accounts were held for another person or entity. 

“Yes, Sir,” Ichida said.

In her testimony, Ishida said there were two bank accounts under the name of Duterte and Carpio with a combined deposit of P2.448 million as of 2025. 

Defense lawyer Justin Gular objected to the flashing of the total amounts on the bank accounts of Duterte and Carpio on the screen. 

“Since several bank officials will be presented, they don’t have personal knowledge on all those bank accounts. But you can include the total per year per account,” presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero said in directing the prosecution panel.

Poa maintained that the Vice President was not involved in the withdrawals after the prosecution presented an official of the BPI on a supposed P96-million joint account with her father.

During cross-examination of BPI central Metro Manila branches division head Marwin Galvez, Poa said he personally wrote the BPI to clarify the supposed 2010 time deposit linked to the Vice President and the former president.

Bribery

The plan to drop the bribery charges against Duterte is the prerogative of the House prosecution team, according to the defense. 

Poa, however, said they are still awaiting the formal manifestation of the prosecution. 

While acknowledging that the trial strategy rests with the House prosecutors, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the inclusion of the bribery allegation in the Articles of Impeachment meant that the prosecution panel had sufficient evidence to back it up before the impeachment court.

House prosecutors hinted that they would drop the bribery charges against Duterte during the resumption of trial this week.

VP affidavit on Gracioso

The Vice President will submit her sworn affidavit today after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) asked her to answer the allegations of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered suitcases of cash to members of the Duterte family.

“I strongly deny the statements of Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. in his sworn statement and media interviews,” Duterte said. 

Gracioso said the former president received about P1 billion from 2018 until the end of his term in 2022.