Billions of pesos in flagged bank transactions remain unchallenged, with no direct denial from Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) findings.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the couple’s legal move questioning the disclosure of bank records stops short of disputing the reported P6.7 billion in transactions, shifting the focus to how the information was obtained rather than whether it is accurate.
“Hindi nila dine-deny ang numero. Ang kinukwestyon nila ay kung paano ito nalaman—hindi kung totoo ito,” Ridon said.
Ridon said the complaint filed by Carpio focuses on how the information was obtained and disclosed during impeachment-related proceedings involving lawmakers and financial regulators, rather than addressing the substance of the figures.
He said the issue now requires closer examination of the reported transactions, starting with the P4.43 billion in inflows flagged by the AMLC.
“Ang unang tanong—saan nanggaling ang P4.43 billion na pumasok sa kanilang accounts?” he said, adding that the amount must be reconciled with the Vice President’s declared income, assets, and net worth.
Ridon said the gap between declared earnings and the reported inflows warrants explanation.
He also raised concerns over P1.55 billion in outflows, saying large movements of funds should be accounted for in terms of spending, investment, or other financial activity.
“Hindi sapat na sabihing may lumabas na pera—kailangan ding ipaliwanag kung saan ito napunta at para saan ito ginamit,” he said.
After accounting for inflows and outflows, Ridon pointed to a remaining P2.88 billion net inflow in the AMLC data, which he said remains unexplained.
“At kahit ibawas natin ang outflows, may natitira pa ring P2.88 billion na net inflow,” he said.
For Ridon, the issue has shifted from disclosure concerns to questions about how large sums of money entered, moved through, and remained in the accounts.
He said these figures, when compared with declared assets and lawful income, raise accountability concerns that cannot be ignored.
“At kung hindi ito maipaliwanag, ito ay nagbubukas ng isyu ng unexplained wealth at maaaring umabot sa betrayal of public trust,” he said.
Ridon added that the AMLC data does not weaken the allegations but instead sharpens the questions surrounding them.
“Mas lalo nitong pinapalinaw ang isyu,” he said.
He said the core issue remains straightforward: “Saan nanggaling ang pera, saan napunta, at bakit may natitirang bilyon na hindi maipaliwanag?”