Should Sara Duterte have listed all her guns in her SALNs?

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Senator-judges couldn't care less about Vice President Sara Duterte's gun records, but prosecutors say they are just presenting a 'complete picture' of her true wealth

Senator-judges were reluctant to allow the prosecution’s offer of testimony on Vice President Sara Duterte’s gun collection, and apparently, it’s a matter that hit too close to home.

Many lawmakers are gun enthusiasts themselves – Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri even proudly declared himself to be pro-gun at open court on Monday, September 28. Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto said he and other senators usually put their weapons under “personal properties,” implying that he himself didn’t itemize his guns in his SALNs.

From where senators are standing, it’s a non-issue that Duterte did not declare her firearms one by one in her SALNs.

So did the prosecution just waste a vital day in the court?

What the law says

Prosecutor Bel Zamora argued that Section 32 of the the 2025 omnibus SALN rules require the individual declaration of firearms. The defense team, however, quickly brushed off that argument, arguing that such guidelines cannot be applied retroactively.

“The 2025 CSC rules… do not have application to the SALNs of the Vice President as those will be applicable only for submission beginning 2026,” defense lawyer Carlo Narvasa argued.

The 2025 CSC rules consolidate and replace five previous CSC resolutions, including a 2013 resolution that provided guidelines for filling out a SALN form.

Indeed, CSC Resolution No. 1300173 in 2013 did not explicitly state that firearms should be specifically declared in one’s SALN. It did say though: “Personal properties collectively acquired or are of minimal value may be declared generally or collectively.”

What constitutes “minimal value” is unclear, and the prosecution’s witness from the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, Police Major Joericson Sangalang, doesn’t have the acquisition cost of Duterte’s firearms as well. PNP FEO can only estimate based on market value – Duterte and her husband Mans Carpio’s gun collection could cost around P7 million.

What’s certain though is that Duterte and her spouse have 51 registered firearms, including 22 from Duterte herself. There are no records with the PNP to indicate that these were donations.

In trouble for non-disclosure of guns

Some public officials and employees faced legal obstacles in the past for failing to disclose their guns in their SALNs.

Prosecutor Terry Ridon cited customs official Recaflor de Leon who, in 2015, was suspended without pay by the Ombudsman for failing to declare his three licensed firearms from 2003 to 2011.

A press release from the Department of Finance, the complainant in the case, said De Leon should have itemized his personal properties because as per SALN instructions in 2008, there should be a breakdown for items under the category “others” if the value exceeds P100,000.

In 2018, the Ombudsman charged former police chief Alan Purisima with perjury before the Sandiganbayan for failing to disclose his wife’s properties, as well as his firearms from 2011 to 2012.

“The disclosure and declaration is required under Section 7 of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft Law) as amended and Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees),” the charge sheets at the time said.

RA 3019 instructs public officers to file a true, detailed SALN, while RA 6713 says a SALN shall contain information on personal property and acquisition cost, and “all other assets such as investments, cash on hand or in banks, stocks, bonds, and the like.”

In the same year, the Ombudsman indicted former Marantao, Lanao del Sur mayor Mohammadali Abboh Abinal for not disclosing his firearms and vehicles from 2007 to 2012.

The prosecution’s point

Despite unfavorable remarks from senator-judges – with Raffy Tulfo even describing the offer of testimony on Duterte’s guns as a “waste of time” – the prosecution asserted that the vice president’s gun collection was an important matter.

“Even though they say it’s only P7 million, when you submit your SALN, you are certifying under oath that it’s all that you own,” private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said in a Rappler interview. “This is where we will attempt to show to the public and the impeachment court that there is a pattern on the part of the Vice President of hiding her wealth.”

Prosecutor Ridon’s justification was along the same lines.

“We wanted to be able to present a most complete picture of the true wealth of the Vice President,” Ridon said during a press conference. “It’s part of the truth-telling of the prosecution on this matter.” – Rappler.com