Metro Manila, Philippines – The House prosecution panel on Monday, Sept. 28, presented records showing Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, own 51 firearms worth ₱7.22 million, but a number of senator-judges questioned the relevance of the evidence to the charge of unexplained wealth, false statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), and failure to divest business interest.
The prosecution presented the firearms as part of its allegations involving unexplained wealth and non-disclosure in Duterte’s SALN.
Police Major Joericson Sangalang of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) testified on the couple’s firearms during Day 30 of the impeachment trial.
Sangalang said the vice president has 22 registered firearms, while Carpio has 29. Their combined value was placed at P7.22 million based on current market prices from an FEO survey.
But the valuation drew questions from the defense and senator-judges because it was based on current market value rather than the firearm acquisition cost.
“What is pertinent is the acquisition cost. So, from the very beginning, the witness’ testimony has proven to be [of] no value,” defense lawyer CJ Narvasa said.
The defense also questioned Sangalang’s qualifications to testify on firearm values, saying appraisal was not part of his duty.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questioned the relevance of the testimony, noting that people, including businesspersons and public officials, own firearms.
Senator-judge Migz Zubiri also raised reservations, noting that some senators declare their firearms as personal property.
Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano also questioned whether the firearms were significant enough to warrant the court’s time.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero at one point indicated that he was moving toward excluding Sangalang as a witness. The prosecution later agreed to abbreviate its presentation.
Escudero also pointed out that the ₱7-million value was within Duterte’s latest declared net worth of about P88 million.
The prosecution, however, said the issue was not simply the value of the firearms but whether they were properly declared in Duterte’s SALN.
“This is a question of na-declare [in the SALN] o hindi,” lead prosecutor Rep. Jinky Luistro said in a briefing.
[Translation: This is a question of whether it was declared in the SALN or not.]
Luistro said firearms are property that should be declared under SALN guidelines.
She acknowledged the defense argument that the 2025 SALN guidelines apply to documents filed in 2026.
But she said Duterte still has to explain whether the firearms were declared in her 2025 SALN.
“Dapat na-declare ito, kung hindi man specifically as firearms. Where? In which item did they declare these personal properties in their 2025 SALN?” Luistro said.
[Translation: This should still have been declared, even if not specifically listed as firearms.]
Sangalang said both Duterte and Carpio hold Type 5 licenses, which allow certified gun collectors to own more than 15 firearms.
Duterte’s 22 firearms are 14 pistols, two revolvers, five rifles and one shotgun. Three of her rifles are classified as Class A light weapons with fully automatic functions, which are normally issued to law enforcers.
Carpio has 16 pistols, two revolvers, 10 rifles, and one shotgun, including one with an expired registration.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo later raised a broader concern about firearm ownership after Sangalang testified that there is no limit on the number of firearms a private citizen may own as long as they are properly registered and the owner holds the appropriate license.
Tulfo said lawmakers may need to revisit the rules to prevent an individual from accumulating enough firearms to form a “private army.”
House prosecutor Joel Chua said the prosecution has presented about half of its Article II evidence, with more substantial evidence still to come.
