MANILA, Philippines — Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero on Monday allowed Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura to testify on reports subpoenaed by the court in connection with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying that AMLC confidentiality rules do not make the documents absolutely immune from a lawful court order.
On the 33rd day of the impeachment trial, Escudero said the court must consider the confidentiality provisions of Section 8-A of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), or Republic Act 9160, but that these do not bar the AMLC from complying with a court order, provided proper safeguards are observed.
“Compliance with a lawful order subject to proper safeguards does not constitute, to the mind of the court, such a breach,” Escudero said.
The ruling came as Buenaventura took the witness stand to testify on the AMLC reports sought by the impeachment court.
Escudero said the court had reviewed the records and found no procedural confidentiality that would prevent the AMLC from providing the reports.
Asked by Escudero whether his testimony would violate any provision of Republic Act 9160, Buenaventura replied, “No, Your Honor.”
Buenaventura acknowledged the law’s confidentiality provisions but said the AMLC’s internal rules allow the council to comply with orders issued by competent courts.
“We are complying with our internal rules, the law, and the order of this court,” he said.
Buenaventura cited the AMLC’s 2022 Information Exchange Guidelines, which he said govern the handling of confidential information and allow disclosure pursuant to orders from competent authorities, including courts.
He also said the AMLA authorizes the AMLC to issue rules on the handling of confidential documents and that the council’s internal guidelines permit compliance with lawful orders from competent courts.
In her offer of testimony, private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia said nearly P4.5 billion flowed from 2022 to 2025 through 15 corporations in which Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, have interests.
Divinagracia said the amount was separate from the P44.4 billion that allegedly flowed through the couple’s accounts.
Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan, however, said Duterte was not hiding anything and argued that the information should first undergo proper verification in accordance with the law.
