MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker and Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon has hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte, calling her explanation regarding the alleged discrepancy in her bank transactions “insulting to the intelligence of the Filipino people.”
The exchange follows the Vice President’s recent defense against allegations raised by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes had claimed that billions of pesos flowed through the bank accounts of the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio—figures that critics say do not align with her declared wealth.
In a previous statement, the Vice President dismissed the allegations, suggesting that any large sums of money associated with her name might have been “lumped together” with other assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), or were simply non-existent fabrications.
Ridon, however, argued that the law regarding SALNs is clear: assets must be declared with specificity. “To claim that millions or even billions of pesos can simply be ‘lumped’ with other assets without proper itemization is a mockery of the SALN law,” Ridon said in a press briefing. “It is an insult to every government employee who meticulously declares their modest savings.”
Ridon emphasized that the SALN is a tool for transparency and accountability, designed to detect ill-gotten wealth. He noted that if there is a massive gap between a public official’s declared income and the cash flow in their bank accounts, “lumping” is not a valid legal explanation.
“The public deserves a line-by-line explanation, not a general dismissal,” Ridon added. “If the transactions happened, where did the money come from? If they didn’t happen, then allow a full investigation into the bank records to clear your name once and for all.”
The controversy has added fuel to the growing rift between the Duterte camp and the current administration’s allies. While the Vice President has labeled the accusations as “political harassment” and “recycled lies,” various transparency advocates are joining the call for a more thorough audit of the figures presented by Trillanes.
Trillanes has already filed a formal complaint for plunder and graft before the Department of Justice (DOJ), citing the alleged bank records as primary evidence. Legal experts note that the DOJ must now determine if there is probable cause to proceed with a full-blown investigation.
As the “war of words” escalates, Ridon and other watchdogs are urging the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to break their silence and clarify whether the documents cited in the complaint are authentic.
“Silence only breeds suspicion,” Ridon concluded. “In the interest of public trust, the Vice President should welcome an inquiry instead of insulting those asking the hard questions.”