AMLC, Trillanes set to testify in impeach proceedings vs. VP Sara Duterte

An official from the Anti-Money Laundering Council and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV are set to testify before the House justice panel impeachment hearing against Vice President Sara Duterte on April 22, Wednesday. 

Based on the subpoena issued to AMLC and Trillanes, they were directed to appear before the House justice committee at 10 am on April 22. 

AMLC Chairman Eli Remolona Jr. has been tasked to bring “original or certified true copies of all reports of covered transactions and suspicious transactions” involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, along with “any and all investigation reports or related reports or documents prepared by AMLC” on the same.

The subpoena, issued in connection with the verified impeachment complaints against the Vice President, states that the records will be used “to testify on reports of covered transactions and suspicious transactions” involving Duterte and her husband.

The same subpoena issued to AMLC said that the documents are relevant to the House justice panel inquiry on allegations of unexplained wealth against the Vice President. 

Likewise, the House justice panel also directed the AMLC to “identify and authenticate AMLC reportorial certifications, and other relevant reports” involving the Vice President, her spouse, and “various business entities in which they hold interest.”

The subpoena for Trillanes, on the other hand, said that he should submit “original or certified true copies of documents in connection with the allegations in the impeachment complaints of unexplained wealth, which Vice President Sara Duterte failed to reflect in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.”

Trillanes was also asked to testify in connection with his allegations that the Vice President maintained numerous bank accounts where hundreds of millions, if not billions of pesos, were deposited and or transferred over the years, and other related matters. 

The subpoena was signed by House committee on justice chairperson Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas, with Deputy Speaker Alfredo “Albee” Benitez of Negros Occidental signing for Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III. 

House committee on public accounts chairperson Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list, in a separate statement, said the April 22 hearing is just as crucial because it will center of documents rather than personalities. 

“There is no star witness here. The documents will speak for themselves,” he said.

The Vice President’s 2024 SALN showed her net worth at P88.5 million. 

“Her SALN entries should match her bank records and other financial statements. Otherwise, it becomes a probable cause for a case of unexplained wealth,” Ridon added. —AOL, GMA News