Sara, Mans never registered law firm, PCIJ reports; baseless, says Duterte’s daughter

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her husband Attorney Mans Carpio never registered their law firm with the Securities and Exchange Commission since it came to be ten years ago, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has reported.

President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, according to the PCIJ, also did not formally and publicly declare her leave of absence from the firm when she became mayor supposedly in violation of the Local Government Code.

According to Jam Sisante's report on "24 Oras", Sara said she would rather not comment on the allegations.

"Karamihan naman kasi doon baseless actually so hindi namin sinasagot pero kung meron akong makita na karapat-dapat na sagutin then I will answer," Sara said.

In another article, PCIJ reported that  the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of the President, Sara, and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte showed "big spikes" while they were in public office.

Malacañang said that the report was "nothing new" but questioned its timing.

"The timing of the release is very much suspect; however, public documents on the matter, including their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), are public records and open for public scrutiny," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

"The President, being a lawyer, would not prepare or even sign a document which contains falsehoods or omits matters that require to be so indicated," he added.

Panelo said that it's up to the Filipino electorate on who to believe regarding the issue. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News