Ridon: Undeclared firearms new evidence in Duterte impeachment case

MANILA, Philippines — Public prosecutor and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said on Tuesday that new evidence in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case will include firearms worth millions that she failed to disclose in her statements of net worth.

In an interview, Ridon said Duterte omitted about 50 “short and long” firearms from her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), estimated to be worth millions, as the House prosecution team seeks an expert appraisal to determine their actual value.

The firearms are supposedly owned by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, and were registered with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

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“We will get the list from the PNP Firearms Division on each and every firearm that is registered in the name of the vice president and her husband,” Ridon, who leads the team handling the unexplained wealth accusations against Duterte, told the Inquirer.

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“All of the firearms were never declared in any SALN, in any year,” he added.

READ: Ridon: New impeachment evidence targets Sara Duterte wealth

Ridon initially said there were more than 30 firearms, but in a later interview, he said there were 50 firearms.

“It’s a mix of rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and pistols listed under their names … if there are 50 firearms, I think that is worth millions. So during the trial proper, we will invite the dealers, because they are listed in the PNP record,” he said in Filipino.

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Ridon added there are 52 firearms—29 of which belong to Carpio, while 23 are under Duterte’s name.

Last week, Ridon disclosed that the House prosecution panel gathered new evidence against Duterte, material not revealed during the “clarificatory hearings” held by the House justice committee in April.

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He confirmed that the firearms were the new evidence he was referring to.

“The non-disclosure of firearms ownership is a serious matter, not only because of its value but also because of the type of property left undeclared,” he said in Filipino.

“While firearms ownership is not prohibited, it is a highly regulated form of property that should be declared in the SALN,” he added.

READ: Ridon: We have new evidence of Sara Duterte properties not in her SALN

Ridon said Duterte’s failure to disclose the firearms in her SALNs may suggest she holds additional hidden assets.

“If you have a stash of at least 30 firearms, which you know are a regulated class of property, it is not far-fetched that there may also be unregulated properties not listed in the vice president’s SALN,” he said.

Ridon reminded the public that omissions in SALNs were among the grounds for the conviction of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

“There should be the same treatment regarding the non-disclosure of firearms by our vice president in her SALN,” he added.

Duterte, 48, faces accusations of corruption and constitutional violations in the articles of impeachment that the House transmitted to the Senate on May 11 after an overwhelming vote. She was indicted on the following charges:

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Culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust through the alleged systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular use of confidential funds amounting to P500 million under the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million under the Department of Education

Culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official, and for failing to disclose all assets in her statements of net worth for 2022, 2023, and 2024

Bribery, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust for allegedly giving monetary gifts or payments to Department of Education officials to induce violations of and circumvent procurement and related laws

Culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust for allegedly contracting the assassination of the president, the first lady, and the former House speaker, making grave threats, and actively inciting sedition against the Republic

/mcm