VP Sara denies owning lot linked to her SALN, accuses NBI of misleading public

Vice President Sara Duterte denied owning a lot that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified as linked to her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), accusing the bureau of misleading the public last Tuesday, October 13.

In a statement, Duterte said the lot shown in the NBI’s presentation was not hers and questioned the public benefit of the investigation. 

Her denial followed the NBI presentation last October 12 of properties under investigation for possible discrepancies in declared assets. NBI Director Melvin Matibag presented photographs and videos of properties allegedly linked to Duterte and her brother, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte.

Matibag said the investigators were examining 121 properties linked to the Duterte family, 24 of which he said were declared in the Vice President’s SALN. The bureau also identified 14 properties listed in her SALNs for field inspection.

Matibag also cited a property in Barangay Catigan, Davao City declared as agricultural land worth 890,000 pesos. He said assessment and physical inspections placed its estimated value at between 14 million pesos and 61 million pesos, with other reports citing an estimate of up to 60 million pesos.

Duterte also questioned the NBI’s credibility, saying the agency’s presentation of what she described as questionable evidence was among the reasons why it was removed from the prosecution’s witness list in the Senate impeachment proceedings.

The investigation is connected to allegations made by dismissed police officer Rudolfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed that he delivered cash to members of the Duterte family on the instructions of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

NBI said it was examining whether the alleged movement of money could be connected to investments in real estate, a practice known as land banking.

The vice president has denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him. Velasco’s camp has also rejected the allegations against the former House speaker.

Separately, Paolo Duterte challenged Matibag to produce evidence supporting the NBI’s claim linking him to a property in Samal Island, Davao del Norte. He argued that photographs alone were insufficient to establish ownership.

The NBI’s findings have also drawn attention in the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President. House prosecutor Chel Diokno said the prosecution would cross-check the bureau’s findings against existing financial records and evidence presented in the case. 

The dispute centers on whether the documentary evidence can establish the ownership of the properties, verify their declared values and substantiate the allegations being examined by the investigators.