Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17774369954842026042904044_85a6ee01eae486bb7c15130366ffa331a5036ec205fe5c6c0ba479ad1d493211 (7).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Some members of the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday criticized the complaint filed against them by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband over the disclosure of their bank records during the panel’s earlier hearing, saying they would not be shaken by this.<em> 📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News and Press and Public Affairs Bureau/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some members of the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday criticized the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/27/sara-duterte-s-husband-files-complaint-disclosure-of-bank-records-1039">complaint </a>filed against them by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband over the disclosure of their bank records during the panel’s earlier hearing, saying they would not be shaken by this.</p><p>Lawyer Manases &quot;Mans&quot; Carpio’s complaint stemmed from the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC) move to disclose the reports of &quot;suspicious&quot; and &quot;covered&quot; bank transactions amounting to P6.77 billion linked to the couple during a period of nearly 20 years.</p><p>Carpio’s legal counsel argued that the AMLC, under Section 8a of Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, cannot reveal any information obtained by their office &quot;in any manner.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/mans-carpio-s-spox-argues-house-impeach-hearings-not-exempt-from-bank-secrecy-prohibition-1327">Mans Carpio&#x27;s spox argues House impeach hearings not exempt from bank secrecy prohibition</a></div><p>In her opening statement, House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but said they are ready to face this.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO DENIAL?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Luistro, however, said, “Pero pansinin natin—kung totoo ang mga ulat, ang tinutumbok ng reklamo ay ang subpoena natin, at ang proseso ng paglabas ng AMLC Report, hindi ang nilalaman ng AMLC Report. Klaro na hindi tinatanggi ang mga bilyones na nabanggit sa AMLC Report,” said Luistro.</p><p>“Tila inaamin na may bilyon-bilyong piso ngang tinatago, at ang tanging reklamo lamang ay: bakit ninyo kami binubulabog?” she added.</p><p>Luistro said while Carpio and Duterte’s camps could file complaints all they want, this would not change the fact that the Constitution is the supreme law of the country and all government officials must be held accountable.</p><p>“Hindi nilikha ang bank secrecy para maging taguan ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman. Ang layunin ng bank secrecy ay protektahan ang lehitimong deposito, hindi pagtakpan ang kahina-hinalang galaw ng bilyon-bilyong piso,” she said.  </p><p>“Ang papel ng AMLC ay siyasatin ang mga kahina-hinalang transaksyon at iulat ang mga ito sa kinauukulan—dahil ang pagpapalabas ng katotohanan ay hindi paglabag, kundi pagsunod lamang sa mas mataas na prinsipyo ng pananagutan,” she said.</p><p>For Luistro, if there is nothing to hide, there is no reason to obstruct.</p><p>“The only people who fear the disclosure of these transactions are those with dirty secrets. Transparency is the only response of those with integrity; everything else is just an excuse.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN TO MILLIONAIRES&#x27;<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Akbayan Party Rep. Perci Cendaña, among the respondents in Carpio’s complaint, said those who filed this should have self-reflection on who really did something wrong.</p><p>“Hindi porke&#x27;t nadiskubre ng komite ang 630 covered transactions na nagkakahalaga ng P6.77 billion in total ay nilabag agad ang kanilang karapatan,” said Cendaña.</p><p>“Kung sino ang nagpasimuno ng drug war, sila pa talaga ang may bilyon-bilyong drug money. Simula na ito ng paniningil sa mga Duterte at hindi ang complaint ni Atty. Mans Carpio at kahit ano pang legal harassment ang makakapigil  sa pagtiyak natin sa pananagutan,” he added.</p><p>“We will not bow down to millionaires, drug syndicates or thieves.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DIVERSIONARY TACTIC<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno – also a respondent – likewise criticized the complaint, saying the lawmakers are only doing their constitutional duties.</p><p>“Yung pag-issue natin ng subpoena sa AMLC ay nakabase sa rules of impeachment ng House of Representatives. Ayon mismo sa ating Korte Suprema, hindi sakop ng AMLC ang mga sinasabing prohibition from disclosing information,” said Diokno.</p><p>“No member of the committee belongs to the AMLC and no bank deposits were disclosed during the hearings here,” he added.</p><p>He also described this as a diversionary tactic.</p><p>“Gusto nila malimutan ng taumbayan kung bakit tayo naririto. Sana po huwag tayo madala. Hindi kami natatakot, hindi kami mai-intimidate, itutuloy namin ang aming tungkulin bilang mga miyembro ng Committee of Justice at representatives ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.</p><p>The House justice panel today will hold its final day of hearing on the impeachment complaints against Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/29/house-panel-set-for-crucial-vote-on-vp-sara-duterte-impeachment-0805">House panel nears crucial vote on VP Sara impeachment; final hearing to focus on &#x27;grave threats&#x27;</a></div><p>Wednesday’s hearing will focus on the alleged “grave threats” against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-57kIr6C7Ww?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but said they are ready to face this.</p>

House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but said they are ready to face this.

‘We will not bow down’: Lawmakers blast Duterte camp complaint over disclosure of bank records

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‘We will not bow down’: Lawmakers blast Duterte camp complaint over disclosure of bank records

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2026 12:35 PM PHT

Read More:

Vice President Sara Duterte

impeachment

House Committee on Justice

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