Manila: The prosecution will convert the banking, tax, and anti-money laundering records ordered produced by the Senate impeachment court into a form that senator-judges and ordinary Filipinos can readily understand. House of Representatives prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin 'Jay' Tolosa Jr. stated that the panel would immediately examine the documents once they are submitted to the impeachment court.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate ordered the concerned banks, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to submit the specified records or make the required return by July 30. These documents will be used in the prosecution's presentation under Article II, which accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of accumulating unexplained wealth and failing to fully disclose her assets. The panel plans to compare Duterte's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) with her reported income, bank transactions, and financial interests over the period covered by the court's ruling.
Tolosa clarified that the records would come directly from their institutional custodians rather than from Duterte or her defense team. Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima mentioned that the prosecution plans to call a witness to reconcile the SALNs, income tax returns, bank records, corporate interests, and AMLC material once the subpoenaed documents are produced. De Lima emphasized that the evidence must address the broader constitutional question of whether Duterte can still be entrusted with public office.
The Senate impeachment court's ruling has also renewed attention on allegations raised by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV regarding allegedly suspicious financial transactions involving members of the Duterte family and Chinese businessman Samuel Uy in 2017. House prosecution panel adviser and spokesman Robert Ace Barbers stated that the ruling authorizes the legal process for obtaining financial records and should not be construed as a finding of wrongdoing.
The Duterte camp has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and no final judicial determination has established criminal liability against the individuals named in connection with those claims. During earlier hearings, the AMLC did not publicly release the underlying bank statements or complete account records but confirmed the existence of transaction reports filed by banks. AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura testified that banks submitted 630 Covered Transaction Reports (CTRs) and 33 Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) involving accounts linked to Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases 'Mans' Carpio.
The financial records sought through the impeachment process could help establish facts that the prosecution considers material to the case. The Senate impeachment court emphasized that the subpoena for financial records is a procedural step to obtain evidence and should not be interpreted as a determination of liability or guilt. Vice President Duterte has denied wrongdoing and described the impeachment proceedings as politically motivated. The defense panel is expected to challenge any evidence it believes was improperly obtained or irrelevant to the proceedings.
