Nowhere in Digong’s SALN
President Duterte reported in his SOCE how he received P375 million and used P371.5 million in his campaigns. But his P3.55 million in excess campaign funds was not reflected in his last SALN.
His SALN on June 30 this year said his net worth was P24.1 million, reflecting an increase of P565,524.11 in 6 months. Formerly, it was P23.5 million in December 2015. The increase was included in his cash-on-hand report and in the bank, increasing by P465,524.11. His liability report reflected a P100,000 decrease.
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On Oct. 22, 2016, PCIJ asked Duterte where his additional income came from. But his office has not responded to this query as of press time, although lawyer Ryan Acosta from the Office of the Executive Secretary, claimed that PCIJ’s inquiry has been referred to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.
How about VP Leni and Senator Ping?
VP Robredo also reported excess funds from donations for her campaign. She received P423.2 million and used P418.7 million of it. She has P4.01 million unpaid obligations as shown on her SOCE. If this obligation has been settled, there remains an amount of P486,349.57 she should have indicated in her SALN as of June 30 this year.
The PCIJ office got a letter dated Dec. 1, 2016, signed by VP Robredo’s lawyer, Reagan de Guzman, telling about other matters except her unpaid obligation. The lawyer, however, mentioned in the letter that, “any excess is meant to be declared as income for 2016, for allocation for various expenses such as taxes and costs of canvassing and protest.”
The Lacson camp, on the other hand, said that Senator Ping Lacson has returned his excess campaign fund to his donors. In fact, his media relations officer, Joel Locsin, claimed that “the excess amount (P2.54 million) was returned to the contributors who donated the same, and the corresponding acknowledgement receipts have been issued.”
PCIJ was not given any copy of the acknowledgment receipts, however, even if it requested the same from the senator.
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