MAMAMAYANG Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Representatives Jose Manuel Diokno and Percival Cendana attended the preliminary investigation on the charges filed against them by Manases “Mans” Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, on Friday.
The lawmakers arrived at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday to receive the complaint.
They are facing allegations of violating provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) as amended; the RA 1405, or the Bank Secrecy Law; and RA 10173, or the Data Privacy Act, which were filed last April 27.
In an earlier statement, Carpio said that the lawmakers and other officials violated the provisions of these laws by publicly disclosing his confidential bank records during the House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment cases filed against the Vice President.
In an interview with reporters, Diokno said that they are confident of their legal position.
”They cannot weaponize the law to silence those who are doing their jobs,” he added.
De Lima, on the other hand, said that the cases filed by Carpio are a form of harassment.
”We never violated any law, and they know that. These cases have no basis. And if I may add, we can also file countercharges,” de Lima said.
Cendana said that the case filed against them is a form of “intimidation.”
“This is [a] classic Duterte [move] that sends a chilling effect to our citizens who will call them out [for] their abuses,” Cendana said.
The other respondents are House Justice Committee chairman Gerville Luistro; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr.; and Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura.
Meanwhile, Carpio has added the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Insurance Commission (IC) as respondents in the case.
He added SEC Chairman Francis Lim and IC Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado as additional respondents in an addendum filed at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on May 13.
In a statement, Carpio said that as the law requires the AMLC to act unanimously, the council members are responsible for the public testimony of Buenaventura. He cited reply letters from Lim and Regalado as evidence that the disclosure occurred with their prior knowledge.
”The AMLC maintains that its actions are undertaken strictly in accordance with the law and its institutional mandate,” Lim said in a reply letter dated May 4, according to the filing.
Regalado also replied in correspondence that the council’s actions fell within the bounds of its legal authority.
Carpio contended these responses prove the disclosure of his and his wife’s bank records was authorized by the full council.
”Based on the above replies of respondents Lim and Regalado, it is evident that respondent Buenaventura’s public disclosure of my bank records and information, worse testimony in the House Committee on Justice on April 22, 2026, was with the prior knowledge, approval and/or acquiesce of the respondents Lim and Regalado,” Carpio said.
