VP Sara Duterte accuses impeachment prosecution of fabricating evidence

Vice President Sara Duterte accused the impeachment prosecution on Monday of allegedly fabricating evidence against her, claiming the case against her and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, is collapsing under scrutiny.

Her sharp rebuke followed testimony last week from a forensic financial analyst, who claimed the couple accumulated more than ₱817 million in unexplained wealth and undeclared assets between 2022 and 2025.

Additionally, an Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) witness testified that Cale88 Foods Corporation—a firm linked to Carpio—received ₱319 million in remittances from China and Hong Kong. Broader AMLC transaction records presented in court showed approximately ₱4.4 billion flowing through Carpio’s bank accounts between 2007 and 2025.

Duterte dismissed the allegations, asserting that the prosecution is resorting to desperate tactics as its momentum fades.

“Bumabagsak na ’yung kaso nila kaya binibilisan, kasi wala na silang masabi. Nag-iimbento ka ng ebidensya eh. Sa simula pa lang, ’yung impeachment complaint mo walang annexes, walang attached pieces of evidence,” Duterte told reporters.

“Tapos gumawa ka, nag-imbento ka ng ebidensya. Sinubukan nila ’yun kay Madriaga. Bumagsak na ’yung bribery. Ngayon, sinubukan nila ’yung Grasioso. Wala na eh, bumagsak na,” she added.

(Translation: “Their case is collapsing, which is why they are rushing—they have nothing left to say. They are fabricating evidence. From the very beginning, the impeachment complaint lacked annexes and attached evidence. Then they invented evidence. They tried it with Madriaga, but the bribery charge fell apart. Now they are trying Grasioso, but it's empty—it has collapsed as well.”)

Duterte’s defense team forcefully disputed the prosecution's claims, emphasizing that no evidence directly links the funds in the couple’s accounts to the Chinese government. Defense lawyers pointed out that AMLC records fail to establish that the Chinese state funneled money to Cale88, maintaining that routine financial transactions alone do not prove wrongdoing or illegal kickbacks.

The Vice President also questioned whether the prosecution was attempting to vilify legitimate commercial ties.

“So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga ang negosyo with China kasi it is a national security risk?” Duterte asked, questioning if standard business dealings with China were now being categorized as security threats.

Duterte framed the impeachment trial as a politically motivated effort to torpedo her future ambitions.

“Lahat na ay ginagawa ko kuno at lahat din ay gagawin din nila para pabagsakin ako because this is about the 2028 elections,” she stated.

-Paraluman News