MANILA – The Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALNs) of Vice President Sara Duterte from her time as Davao City mayor and vice mayor are not pertinent to the ongoing impeachment proceedings, her legal team said.

Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for Duterte’s defense, made the statement after the House committee on justice approved a subpoena duces tecum requesting her SALNs from:

• 2007 to 2013;
• 2016 to 2022; and
• 2022 to 2024.

Duterte served as vice mayor of Davao City from 2007 to 2010, and as mayor from 2010 to 2013, 2016 to 2019, and 2019 to 2022. She was elected Vice President in 2022.

“If you were to ask for SALNs of the Vice President from 2007 to 2024 [or] 2025, I’m not even sure. Kung gano’n, ‘di ba, very clear naman sa ating Supreme Court decision na ang impeachable offense or offenses allegedly committed while in office as an impeachable officer,” Poa said in an interview on Unang Balita.

“So para sa atin, ‘yung 2007 onwards, ‘yung mayor pa siya or vice mayor, that is irrelevant already,” he added.

The Supreme Court has ruled that impeachment charges must be based on acts or omissions committed in relation to the office and during the current term of the impeachable officer. For the President and Vice President, these acts must be grave enough to constitute the crimes described in Article XI, Section 2, or amount to a betrayal of public trust.

Poa emphasized that the House committee’s role is limited to determining probable cause, not conducting a trial, which is the sole authority of the Senate.

“Our position is…to determine probable cause. For example, you have to just look at the complaints, the allegations stated therein and the attached evidence,” he said.

“So sa pananaw namin, going beyond that, that’s no longer just simply determination of probable cause,” he added.

Despite this, Poa said the defense team respects the committee members’ opinion.

Last Thursday, the Office of the Ombudsman committed to complying with the committee’s subpoena for Duterte’s SALNs covering all her years in public office.

The House committee on justice began hearings on the impeachment complaints against Duterte last week after finding the complaints sufficient in form, substance, and grounds. The complaints accuse the Vice President of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other allegations related to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family.