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Ridon explains implication of Duterte couples' 50 undeclared firearms in impeachment trial
Philippines
National
Ridon explains implication of Duterte couples' 50 undeclared firearms in impeachment trial
Ridon explains implication of Duterte couples' 50 undeclared firearms in impeachment trial
Published Jun 16, 2026 08:50 pm
At A Glance
- Rep. Terry Ridon said at least 50 firearms allegedly under Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband put her SALN under tougher scrutiny since regulated properties like guns must be declared.
- He stresses the significance lies in type, quantity, and undisclosed value, noting the PNP list includes rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and pistols, with dealers and valuation experts to be summoned.
- Ridon emphasizes the issue is non‑disclosure, adding the firearms' cost could raise Duterte's net worth beyond declared SALNs and cannot simply be lumped under "others".
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says that the 50 firearms allegedly registered under the names of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases “Mans” Carpio will have some serious implications in the lady official's upcoming Senate impeachment trial.
For one thing, Ridon, a member of the House prosecution panel, said the firearms places the the Vice President’s statement of assets, liabilities, and networth (SALN) under even harder scrutiny.
Ridon says they intend to seek records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and summon the listed firearms dealers as well as a valuation expert to establish the acquisition value of the weapons during the trial proper.
“So tatlo ho ‘yung kahalagahan nitong bagong ebidensya na ito. Una, yung pong type of property," he told House reporters in an interview Tuesday, June 16.
(So there are three important aspects of this new evidence. First, the type of property.)
“Ibig kong sabihin, I think ‘yun pong mga properties na regulated properties katulad ng mga baril, firearms, dapat talagang declared ‘yan sa SALN po ng isang public official,” noted the lawyer-legislator.
(What I mean is, I think regulated properties like guns and firearms should really be declared in the SALN of a public official.)
The Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) SALN guidelines require public officials to declare all personal properties and specifically direct that registered personal properties, including firearms, be listed individually with details such as their year, mode, and cost of acquisition.
Ridon says the quantity of the guns allegedly listed under the couple’s names and their possible total value distinguish the evidence from an ordinary omission involving a low-value personal item.
“Pangalawa, ‘yung dami. So ang question doon, tama ba na ganoong karami ‘yung pag-aari ng mag-asawa o isang public official, ganoong karami pong mga baril at mga armas na pinagsama?” Ridon asked.
(Second, the quantity. So the question is, is it proper for the couple or a public official to own that many guns and weapons combined?)
“At pangatlo, syempre, ‘yong usapin na mismo ng value ng mga pag-aari po na ito. It was never disclosed in the SALN of the Vice President in any year,” he claimed.
(And third, of course, the issue of the value of these properties. It was never disclosed in the Vice President’s SALN in any year.)
“At least 50 po eh, ‘yung nabanggit ko kanina at least 30 pero I can say with confidence na at least 50 po ‘yung pag-aari ng mag-asawa Duterte-Carpio ng mga baril at armas,” Ridon disclosed.
(It’s at least 50. I mentioned earlier at least 30, but I can say with confidence that the Duterte-Carpio couple owns at least 50 guns and weapons.)
He said the PNP listing covered several categories of firearms rather than a single type of weapon.
“Pinagsama po na rifles, revolvers, shotguns at pistols po ‘yung mga nakalista sa kanila pong mga pangalan,” Ridon told reporters.
(The list under their names includes rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and pistols combined.)
He said prosecutors would need testimony and documentary records to determine the total acquisition value because the mere number of firearms would not establish how much the couple paid for them.
“Kung 50 po mga ito, tingin ko milyun-milyon po so pagdating po ng paglilitis, we will invite po ang mga dealers kasi nakalista naman po mga dealers eh, doon po sa listahan po ng PNP at syempre if we get a valuation expert, para po makuha yung kabubuan,” Ridon explained.
(If these are 50, I think they’re worth millions, so during trial we will invite the dealers since they’re listed in the PNP records, and of course if we get a valuation expert, to determine the total value.)
“Pero I’m quite certain at least 50 ang pag-aari mga baril at armas tingin ko lagpas-lagpas ng million-million ang pinag-usapan po natin,” he added.
(But I’m quite certain they own at least 50 guns and weapons, and I think we’re talking way beyond millions in value.)
The CSC guidelines provide that a declarant’s net worth is computed by deducting total liabilities from the acquisition cost or declared value of all real and personal assets.
Ridon stressed that the prosecution was not questioning the purpose for which the firearms were acquired or used, but whether or not they were properly reflected in Duterte’s financial disclosures.
Acquisition cost
He said the panel would separately examine whether adding the acquisition cost of the firearms would alter the net worth figures reported in Duterte’s successive SALNs.
“Una sa lahat isang bagay yung non-disclosure nung firearms ownership. Pero pangalawang bagay at ito yung kailangan naming siyasatin, kung reflective ba sa net worth itong dagdag na impormasyon,” Ridon pointed out.
(First of all, one issue is the non-disclosure of firearms ownership. But second, and this is what we need to examine, whether this added information is reflected in the net worth.)
“Pero supposedly kung ipapasok natin ‘yung firearms dapat mas mataas dun sa declared net worth and asset list na nakalagay sa SALN, whether sa old SALNs or sa most recent SALN as of this week,” he added.
(But supposedly, if we include the firearms, the net worth should be higher than the declared net worth and asset list in the SALN, whether in the old SALNs or the most recent SALN as of this week.)
Ridon also rejected the possibility that the weapons could be treated as an unspecified component of the general “others” entry in a SALN without a particular description.
“Kailangan talaga ma-state with particularity ano yung line items na dapat na nakalagay roon. Pero halimbawa yung usapin ng cash on hand, cash in bank, nakalista yun in the SALN law,” Ridon stated.
(It really needs to be stated with particularity what line items should be listed there. For example, cash on hand and cash in bank are listed in the SALN law.)