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Mark Ernest Villeza - The Philippine Star
October 13, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation is zeroing in on several properties linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and other family members after finding major discrepancies in declared values in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and the agency’s initial estimates.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said they have identified about 14 properties based on Duterte’s SALNs and conducted field inspections to compare the declarations with actual structures and improvements.
He said investigators found a property with a mansion, swimming pools and a helipad, but was declared an agricultural land.
A property declared as worth P890,000 could actually have as much as a P61-million price tag, Matibag noted.
The bureau is also examining properties linked to Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte as it pursues allegations by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered cash to members of the Duterte family on the instructions of former speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
“We are following the money,” Matibag said, adding that investigators are checking whether funds were converted into land, resorts, hotels and other real estate assets.
He said the NBI would submit its initial findings to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, possibly within the week.
Matibag denied that the investigation was politically motivated, saying the bureau would base its actions on documents and other evidence.
Pulong no-show
Rep. Duterte did not show up yesterday at the NBI headquarters in Pasay, sending instead his lawyer to submit a sworn statement.
Matibag said the bureau had given the lawmaker an opportunity to respond to Gracioso’s allegations as investigators continue to trace the movement of money and examine the acquisition of real estate and other high-value assets.
“It is up to them. We are presenting everything based on the evidence gathered in our investigation. We are giving them the opportunity to counter the allegations or say whatever they want,” Matibag told reporters.
He cited the bureau’s findings on transactions involving the Velascos, including land banking, resort development, real estate companies, hotels and luxury vehicles.
Investigators were looking into whether a similar pattern could be established in other transactions covered by the probe, Matibag said.
“Information has come in that matches the pattern we identified, in which money is converted into land investments, resorts and hotels. That is part of money laundering,” he said.
Matibag said investigators were also examining whether properties had been registered under other people’s names while the actual beneficiaries retained an interest in the assets.
“You use the money to buy property, which can eventually be registered under someone else’s name even though you retain an interest in it,” he said.
‘Show proof’
Reacting to Matibag’s claims that he owns a resort in the Island Garden City of Samal, Rep. Duterte demanded that the NBI chief produce proof.
“If you claim that I own a resort in Samal, then I suggest you do what an investigator is expected to do – establish the facts and present evidence,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page yesterday.
Duterte emphasized that a photograph alone does not prove ownership.
“I trust that you understand the difference between a photograph and proof of ownership. After all, that distinction should be elementary for someone in your position,” he said.
“The NBI is an investigative institution, not a platform for trial by publicity. The public expects its director to distinguish verified facts from speculation,” the congressman added.
Flood control links
The NBI also identified alleged links between Genesis 88 Construction Inc. chairman Glenn Escandor and the Duterte family, including a reported P19.2-million payment for Vice President Sara Duterte’s 2022 campaign advertisements.
Matibag said Escandor had served as sports consultant to former president Rodrigo Duterte when he was still mayor of Davao City and as sports adviser during his presidency.
The investigation comes as the agency scrutinizes P1.9 billion worth of flood control projects in the 1st district of Davao City.
Matibag earlier said Department of Public Works and Highways records showed that the projects had been awarded to Genesis 88. The bureau also flagged 47 of 100 projects reviewed for possible irregularities, including suspected ghost and substandard projects.
The NBI chief said the bureau had received 10 boxes of documents covering 47 projects under investigation and had already opened four cases.
A preliminary photographic comparison of four project records revealed discrepancies that investigators are examining, according to findings presented by the bureau.
The NBI reported differences in the dates displayed on photographs, with one image dated June 29, 2023 and another Aug. 30, 2023.
In another project, investigators found photographs bearing invalid dates, including Feb. 30 and Feb. 29, 2023. February 2023 only had 28 days, not a leap year, according to Matibag.
The bureau also noted that clouds and other elements appeared unchanged in photographs supposedly taken on different dates, including images dated Jan. 6 and May 6, 2023.
Probers also identified repeated photographs carrying different dates and, in some cases, different geographical coordinates. — Diana Lhyd Suelto
