MANILA – House leaders on Monday said the complaint filed by lawyer Manases Carpio does little to counter allegations raised in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, instead diverting attention from key questions about alleged unexplained wealth.
Carpio lodged complaints against the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and several lawmakers, claiming violations of banking confidentiality, data privacy, and anti-money laundering laws.
This followed disclosures during the House Committee on Justice hearings indicating that transactions tied to the Carpio couple totaled PHP6.77 billion. Records showed billions in inflows and outflows, along with hundreds of millions in transactions that could not be clearly classified.
For House Committee on Public Accounts chair Terry Ridon, the absence of any denial regarding these figures is telling. He said focusing on how the data surfaced, rather than challenging its accuracy, raises more questions than answers.
Ridon emphasized that the complaint has no solid legal footing, noting that Congress is empowered under the Constitution to gather evidence during impeachment proceedings.
He also underscored that laws on bank secrecy and data privacy cannot be used as shields when public accountability is at stake.
House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chair Joel Chua likewise described the complaint as a diversionary move, saying it shifts focus away from the reported billions in financial transactions that remain unexplained.
Chua added that Carpio has remained silent on allegations previously raised by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV regarding possible involvement in illegal drug shipments.
He further pointed out that lawmakers and witnesses participating in impeachment hearings are protected by constitutional immunity, and that the AMLC disclosures were made in compliance with a subpoena issued by Congress.
Chua clarified that the information presented consisted of AMLC reports on suspicious and covered transactions, not confidential bank account details, reinforcing that no laws were violated in the process.
ia/xf
