Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has rejected a bid by the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte to exclude Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura from testifying as a witness in the ongoing trial.
The defense counsel argued that statutory secrecy provisions under anti-money laundering laws prohibit the AMLC chief from presenting financial information in court.
Escudero dismissed the argument, ruling that legal protections surrounding bank data do not constitute an absolute bar during constitutional accountability proceedings.
“The provision therefore regulates the manner and conditions of disclosure. It does not command absolute silence under every circumstance,” Escudero said.
He also said, “[RA 11521] strengthened information security. It did not overrule Republic versus Sandiganbayan nor repeal AMLC’s functions or confer immunity from a subpoena.”
Escudero further explained that the Bank Secrecy Law specifically allows for inquiries into financial records in impeachment cases.
“This ruling does not authorize unrestricted public disclosure. Testimony shall be confined only to relevant matters and may, when necessary, be received in camera, as the case may be,” he also said.
Following the ruling, the prosecution team prepared to examine the financial intelligence official regarding banking records and transaction histories submitted to the impeachment court.