NBI chief details 3 more ‘misdeclared’ Sara Duterte properties

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday detailed three more alleged properties of Vice President Sara Duterte that were supposedly misdeclared in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

In a press conference on Thursday, Matibag mentioned properties in Davao and Paranaque City supposedly belonging to the vice president and her husband, Atty. Man Carpio.

According to Matibag, the Davao Prime Bistro restaurant, which was named by Carpio, listed a P10 million acquisition cost. However, he noted that its assessed value was only P82,000.

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He also said the property includes a building worth P4.5 million and land valued at P9.5 million.“So meron na kaagad conflict diyan sa Prime Bistro na ‘yan… Ito nakalagay na assessed value, pero ang acquisition is P10 million, mas mataas,” the NBI director said.

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(So there is an immediate conflict with that Prime Bistro… It is stated that the assessed value, but the acquisition is P10 million, higher.)

READ: NBI refers alleged discrepancy in Sara Duterte SALN to Ombudsman

Matibag also mentioned the alleged property in Don Bosco, Paranaque City, in which a P240,000 fair market value was listed in the vice president’s SALN. He also said the building was worth P461,000, and the acquisition cost was P2.2 million. 

But Matibag pointed out that when the bureau assessed the property, it was actually worth P14.4 million.

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Meanwhile, Matibag also mentioned the alleged five lots of Duterte and her husband in Aundanao, Samal. 

He said the acquisition cost was P9 million, but the assessed value rose to P19.5 million.

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“So those are several of the many na nilagay nila dito sa SALN na sinasabi nilang hindi kanila, pero bakit nakadeklara sa SALN na kanila?” Matibag said.

(So those are several of the many that they put here in the SALN that they say are not theirs, but why is it declared in the SALN that they are?)

He then emphasized that “the best evidence rule is ‘the document speaks for itself.'”

“Kapag ang dokumento po sinabing ganoon, na yun yung nakalagay, yun po yung mas pinakikinggan. Lalong-lalo na declaration nila ito, eh,” he said. 

(When the document says that, that’s what’s written, that’s what people listen to more. Especially since it’s their declaration.)

“Unless sabihin nila na pineke ‘yung SALN o under duress ‘yung SALN nung ginawa nila, pero sila po ang nakapirma rito sa SALN, sila nag-submit nito. So ‘yun lang po, diyan po nag-base yung ating pag-aaral, yung pag-aaral ng NBI,” he added.

(Unless they say that the SALN was forged or that the SALN was done under duress, but they were the ones who signed the SALN, they submitted it. So that’s all, that’s what our study, the NBI study, is based on.)

Matibag also said the three additional properties presented were included in the 78-page report the bureau referred to the Office of the Ombudsman last Tuesday.

Matibag earlier mentioned a property of Duterte in Catigan, Davao City, which he said was declared as agricultural land worth only P890,000, but upon inspection, NBI agents found the assessed value was actually estimated at P50 to P60 million.

Duterte earlier released a statement, denying ownership of the properties.

The vice president asserted that the bureau’s probe into the alleged misdeclaration of properties in her SALN was meant to derail her presidential bid in the 2028 elections.

READ: Sara Duterte: NBI probe into properties aims to derail presidential bid

‘Paolo Duterte owns property beside resort on Samal’

Matibag also clarified that the property near Casas Con Vistas Resort, not the resort itself, was referred to as being owned by Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte.

In the press conference, the NBI director played a video, in which a resident spoke about a mansion near the resort.

“So siguro malinaw naman na, ano? Hindi kailangan mag-statement nong Casas Con Vistas dahil hindi naman sila yung sinasabi,” Matibag said. “Hindi sila ‘yung binabanggit, katabi sila.”

(So maybe it’s clear, right? There’s no need to mention Casas Con Vistas because they’re not the ones being talked about. They’re not the ones being talked about, they’re right next to each other.)

The resort earlier released a statement, denying “the allegations suggesting any connection between the resort’s ownership and Congressman Paolo Duterte or any person holding public office.”

The resort said it is owned by private individuals not affiliated with Duterte or any public official.

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The congressman also earlier released a statement denying ownership of the property. /mr