MANILA, Philippines — The ongoing hearings by the House of Representatives on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte are exempted from the Bank Secrecy Law, a lawmaker said on Tuesday.
"It is clearer than day that impeachment hearings are exceptions to the coverage of the Bank Secrecy Law and Anti-Money Laundering Act," Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said in a statement.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chairman of the justice committee that is presiding over the hearings, said on radio that the panel did not violate the law in disclosing findings of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), after Duterte's husband, Manases Carpio, filed a complaint on Monday at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office against several people, including Luistro, Cendaña, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, and Akbayan Rep. Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno over the disclosure.
The committee is determining whether there is probable cause to impeach Duterte.
De Lima said in Filipino in a post on X, "I am not afraid to face any case, especially that we... are not violating any law."
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno said in Filipino and English in a statement that anyone could file a complaint and that he respected that right, adding that he would "answer the allegations in the proper forum." He then said, "At the same time, I have to emphasize that the House Committee on Justice is merely fulfilling its duty."
