MANILA—The Office of the Ombudsman has received a referral from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concerning Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), amid an ongoing probe into alleged money transfers and property acquisitions linked to the Duterte family.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said the referral and its supporting documents would undergo an initial evaluation to determine the appropriate action, including whether further investigation is warranted under established procedures and applicable laws.

“The Office assures the public that the matter will be handled thoroughly, independently and without any political color,” it said.

The NBI has been tracing the alleged movement of money delivered to members of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s family by Rodulfo Gracioso, a dismissed police officer who previously served as a bodyguard of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators were examining whether the funds were used to acquire land as investments, a practice known as land banking, and whether the estimated market values of properties linked to the family matched those declared in the vice president’s SALN.

Matibag cited one property declared at approximately PHP890,000 but estimated to be worth as much as PHP60 million.

“We are investigating this because we are following the pattern na na-establish natin sa Gracioso affidavit. Ibig-sabihin, may pera. Saan pumunta ‘yung pera?,” Matibag said.

“Dito lumalabas ngayon na ‘yung mga properties, ‘yung mga pera, inilalagay sa mga land banking and we are seriously looking into it. May allegations si Gracioso na may perang dinadala sa mga Duterte,” he added.

The agency is also looking into a possible connection between Duterte and businessman Jaime T. Cruz, including interests or ownership declared in the vice president’s SALN that allegedly do not appear in the corporate records of the companies involved.

Matibag said investigators were also determining whether the funds may have originated from foreign entities, which could have national security implications.

Duterte, however, has denied owning a property presented by the NBI as allegedly linked to her SALN and questioned the agency’s operations.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Oct. 13, the vice president criticized the use of public funds for NBI activities that she said offered no clear benefit to the public.

“Ang lote sa larawan na sinabi niyang nasa aking Statement of Assets, Liability, and Net Worth o SALN ay hindi sa akin,” ayon kay Duterte.

She also linked the issue to the NBI’s reported removal from the list of witnesses the prosecution intended to present in the impeachment proceedings.

Duterte alleged that the agency had again submitted questionable evidence, comparing the matter to the earlier Gracioso affidavit.

She stressed that government agencies must ensure their actions comply with the law, are based on facts and serve the public interest.