Report on Dutertes’ net worth ‘spike’ nothing new–Palace

Malacañang on Thursday dismissed as “nothing new” a report that the wealth of President Duterte and two of his children grew while they were in public office.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the timing of the release of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism’s (PCIJ) report “is very much suspect.”

“The report of the PCIJ is nothing new,” he said in a statement.

Panelo noted that the President’s wealth and that of his immediate family “has been the favorite subject of media reports during election campaign season.”

The PCIJ released a story on Thursday titled “Duterte, Sara, Paolo mark big spikes in wealth, cash, while in public office.”

The report claimed that the President, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte grew richer while in public office.

The PCIJ based its findings on the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth filed by the President since 1998, and by Sara and Paolo since 2007.

The report claimed that the President’s net worth rose to P28.5 million in 2017 from P934,000 in 1998.

Sara’s net worth went up to P44.8 million in 2017 from P13.8 million in 2007, while Paolo’s net worth rose to P22.7 million in 2017 from P11.7 million in 2007.  —JULIE M. AURELIO