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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Duterte's foreign trips could become a hot topic in impeachment trial--Kapunan

VP Duterte's foreign trips could become a hot topic in impeachment trial--Kapunan

Published Aug 20, 2026 08:49 am

At A Glance

  • Kapunan questioned Duterte's claim of using personal funds, pointing out her extensive foreign travels in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia that could be inconsistent with her declared income and assets.
  • She warned these trips may be treated as unexplained wealth, directly tying them to article II of the impeachment charges on asset disclosure and financial records.
  • House prosecutors are still presenting evidence on article I, involving the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, before shifting focus to Duterte's wealth and SALN consistency under article II.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook, Unsplash)
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook, Unsplash)


Vice President Sara Duterte's foreign travels--reportedly paid for with personal funds--could come back to haunt her in her Senate impeachment trial.
This, after private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said that respondent Duterte’s declared income, assets, and family business interests could be scrutinized in comparison to her supposed travel costs and expenditures.
“Kung sinasabi niyang ginagamit niya ’yung personal funds, aba, paano ’yung biyahe niya sa [The] Hague, sa Europe? Ang dami niyang dinadalaw sa Middle East. Ngayon, sa Asia naman, marami siya,” Kapunan said during an online press briefing.
(If she says she’s using personal funds, well then, how about her trip to The Hague, to Europe? She visits so many places in the Middle East. Now, in Asia too, she has plenty.)
“Aba, Madam Vice President, baka ayan na ’yung unexplained wealth mo. Ayan ang susunod na article natin,” she noted.
(Well, Madam Vice President, that might already be your unexplained wealth. That’s going to be our next article.)
Kapunan made the remarks amid the controversy on Duterte’s report planned personal trip to Japan, which was later canceled.
The Vice President has maintained that she pays for her personal trips abroad using her own money, although public funds may be spent on security personnel accompanying her.
Kapunan said that assertion could itself become relevant when prosecutors begin presenting evidence on article II of the articles of impeachment, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to properly disclose assets.
“How do you explain your personal funds if it is stated in your SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) kung ano ang sweldo niyo, ano ang businesses ng asawa ninyo, eh saan nanggagaling ’yung personal funds na ginagastos mo para sa mga travels mo? (what your salary is, what your husband’s businesses are, then where are the personal funds you are spending for your travels coming from?)” Kapunan asked.
At the very least, the experienced litigator said discussions on article II would be "exciting".
House prosecutors are currently presenting evidence on article I involving Duterte’s alleged misuse and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).
Article II is expected to shift the prosecution’s focus to the respondent's assets and financial records and whether her wealth is consistent with her declared lawful income.

Related Tags

Lorna Kapunan impeachment Sara Duterte Unexplained wealth foreign trips
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