Manila, Sept. 14 -- The State's right to recover unlawfully acquired wealth from public officials does not expire even if the assets were accumulated years earlier, a former Sandiganbayan chief told the Senate impeachment court Monday.

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo raised the issue through a hypothetical public official who started as a barangay kagawad, later became mayor, and whose questionable wealth was discovered about 15 years after it was supposedly accumulated.

"May time limit ba yun after 15 years na yung kanyang wealth ngayon na nakita sa SALN? Oops, teka muna, saan galing ito, mayor? Is there a time limit or walang time limit naman (Is there a time limit if, after 15 years, wealth seen in his SALN raises the question: Wait, mayor...