VP Duterte's Bank Docs May Reveal More Than AMLC Reports, De Lima Says

MANILA, Philippines — The bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte, which the Senate impeachment court will subpoena, could reveal a broader and more detailed financial picture than the transaction summaries previously submitted by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), according to Rep. Leila de Lima, a member of the House prosecution panel. De Lima said the panel would want the complete records because the reports presented during the House proceedings might not represent every relevant transaction involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manasas Carpio. “What we want is to show all. Whether it is more, this is less than what was initially reported by AMLC through those suspicious [transactions],” De Lima said in an interview on “On Point with Pinky Webb” on Bilyonaryo News Channel Monday night. READ: Senate subpoena on Duterte finance docs a ‘victory’ for people The AMLC material identified P6.7 billion in alleged covered and suspicious transactions beginning from Duterte’s entry into public office as Davao City vice mayor and continuing into her vice presidency. The House prosecution sought the source documents from the banks so they could examine the individual deposits, withdrawals, and transfers behind the aggregate figures, de Lima said. According to her, the bank records will allow the parties to determine whether the transaction totals reflected repeated transfers, legitimate earnings, or funds that cannot be satisfactorily explained. The banks will need to directly confirm the records, although they themselves generated the reports submitted to the AMLC, de Lima said. The prosecution also expects the records to clarify the couple’s combined financial position and the assets held jointly or separately. READ: Senate needs VP financial docs to rule on unexplained wealth De Lima said the records could ultimately show a higher amount, a lower amount, or additional details not contained in the initial summaries. “So it could be more,” De Lima added. /atm