House justice panel: Disclosure of bank transactions during impeach hearings 'legal'

House lawmakers Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, and Perci Cendaña on Friday maintained that the disclosure of bank transactions of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, during the House impeachment hearings was "legal."

The lawmakers, members of the House justice committee, were responding to the criminal complaint filed against them by Carpio before the Quezon City prosecutors office alleging them of violating the Anti-Money Laundering law, Bank secrecy law, Data Privacy Act, among others.

“This is just diversion and harassment. Wala kaming nilabag na batas rito. There is no provision in these laws preventing us from doing our jobs as House justice committee members,” de Lima told reporters during the preliminary investigation on the Carpio complaint

(We did not violate any law here.)

“What law did we violate here? Cong. Perci moved for the subpoena [of bank transactions], a motion joined by Congressman Chel and myself. They (Carpio’s camp) know it we did not violate any law,” De Lima, a former Justice secretary added.

Section 7 of the House impeachment rules provides that the House justice committee “has the power to issue compulsory processes for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other related evidence.”

Diokno, for his part, said Carpio’s camp should not use the law to obstruct justice.

“We are fully confident of our legal position, and we are also calling on everyone to join us in our push for using the law to advance human rights and justice. They should not weaponize the law to silence those who are doing their mandate,” Diokno said.

Lawyer Neil Abayon, one of the counsels of Carpio who was also present during the hearing, maintained that the act was "illegal."

“Our position is that they acted unanimously in illegal disclosure [of bank transactions],” Abayon told reporters.

Aside from the lawmakers, other respondents in the case include:

• Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Eli Remolona
• Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director and Atty. Ronel Buenaventura
• House justice panel chairperson and Batangas Second District Rep. Gerville Luistro
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chief Francis Lim and
• Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado

The rest of these respondents were represented by their respective lawyers.

AMLC

The Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) revealed before the House justice committee that P6.7 billion worth of bank transactions flowed under the names of the Vice President and her husband from 2006 to 2025. The same House impeachment hearings also revealed that Duterte did not declare any cash on hand or in bank from 2019 to 2024 in her joint filing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth with her husband.

Carpio, through his lawyer, “vehemently denies” the P6.7 billion bank transactions.

"Talagang dine-deny niya ‘yung sinasabing P3 billion o P6 billion daw na may laman doon sa accounts niya. Wala siyang ganoong pera,” said Carpio’s lawyer, Atty. Peter Paul Danao

(He really denied that there was P3 billion or P6 billion in his accounts. He doesn't have that kind of money.)

The Vice President's husband argued that under the AMLA, the confidentiality of bank records is “absolute and without exception” to ensure the security, stability, and integrity of the financial system.

He further alleged that the AMLC and the House committee on justice leaked private transaction records, including insurance payments, time deposits, investments, and utility bill payments.

Carpio claimed the alleged leak was used for “black propaganda and political harassment” rather than for legitimate regulatory action.

De Lima, meanwhile, said on Friday that they are also contemplating on filing counter charges against Carpio to seek damages of malicious prosecution and perjury.

Impeachment

The House justice panel members, meanwhile, insist that the Senate should "forthwith" convene as the Senate impeachment court as provided for by the Constitution.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has said that the Senate may convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18 or "at the possible soonest time" following their receipt of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

The 11-member House prosecution panel will be physically present for the scheduled convening of the Senate impeachment court, according to Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.

The lawmakers, however, said that they have yet to receive a notice from Cayetano.

“We have not yet received a [formal] notice. If you saw the letter that came out on social media from the Senate President, he said that we will be advised at the proper time to appear at the Senate,” Diokno said.

This, as the House lawmakers are hoping that a trial will finally take place.

“There has to be a trial. Otherwise, it will be against the Constitution,” Diokno said.

“The Senate will further embarrass themselves if they will stop the impeachment proceedings. They cannot do this to the Filipino people the second time around,” Cendaña said, referring to Senate’s archiving of the 2025 impeachment case against the Vice President.

“To preserve the integrity of the Senate, there has to be an impeachment trial,” he added. —VAL, GMA News