MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, withdrew a total of P41 million in six transactions from two banks on Aug. 6, 2024, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura said Monday.
Testifying before the Senate impeachment court, Buenaventura identified six covered transaction reports (CTRs) involving Carpio on the same date. The transactions consisted of two check encashments and four over-the-counter cash withdrawals.
Of the P41 million, P23 million was withdrawn from BDO Unibank Inc., while P18 million was withdrawn from Philippine National Bank, based on the AMLC records presented in court.
“It was withdrawn from the account of Manases Carpio,” Buenaventura said in response to a question from House private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia about the account involved.
Divinagracia said the prosecution would use the transactions to support its allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte, pointing out that the couple’s 2024 joint Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) did not declare cash on hand or in bank.
“Her husband walked out of two banks with P41 million in cash in a single day, but this is not reflected in their joint SALN,” Divinagracia said.
Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan objected to the presentation of Carpio’s bank transactions, arguing that Carpio is not an impeachable official.
Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero overruled the objection, noting that Duterte and Carpio are married and that the prosecution was presenting the records in connection with allegations involving the Vice President’s assets.
Buenaventura also identified several large cash transactions involving Duterte in December 2024, during her tenure as Vice President.
These included a P2.37-million withdrawal from Land Bank of the Philippines on Dec. 5, a P5.97-million withdrawal from BDO on Dec. 20, and a P1.7-million check encashment from Metrobank on the same date.
Divinagracia said the prosecution would later present evidence concerning time deposits from 2020 to 2022 that it claims were not reflected in Duterte’s SALNs.
She described the alleged omissions as part of a “pattern of non-disclosure.”
The prosecution is presenting the evidence under Article 2 of the impeachment complaint, which involves allegations concerning Duterte’s declaration of assets and alleged unexplained wealth.
