TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has called for greater transparency in the ongoing inquiry into the Vice President’s wealth, urging the disclosure and review of key financial records to establish facts and address lingering questions.
During a hearing of the House Committee on Justice, Acidre emphasized the need to examine documents such as Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), Income Tax Returns, and reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to verify the consistency of declared assets, income, and financial transactions.
In his manifestation, the lawmaker referenced findings from previous hearings, including AMLC data that flagged 18 suspicious transactions out of P6.7 billion in covered transactions, indicating areas that require further explanation.
He also raised concerns over business interests declared in the SALNs of Vice President Sara Duterte and her spouse, noting that several of these appeared to be operating at a loss and may not adequately account for the reported accumulation of wealth.
Acidre pointed out that Duterte’s salary is publicly known and, by itself, would not explain the scale of assets under scrutiny, reinforcing the need for a detailed comparison of financial records.
“This is not a matter of mere suspicion, but of verification,” Acidre said, stressing that conclusions should be based on documentary evidence.
He maintained that allowing access to relevant records would help clarify the issue and strengthen public confidence. “If everything is lawful, opening these documents will serve as the strongest proof,” he added.
Acidre backed proposals to make the documents available for review, underscoring that the objective is to establish facts rather than assign blame.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
