Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, has criticized what he described as coordinated legal efforts by Vice President Sara Duterte and her camp to prevent the disclosure of key financial records, saying the actions raise further questions about alleged unexplained wealth.
Chua said recent court filings involving Duterte and separate legal steps taken by her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, appear aimed at stopping the release of documents that could clarify the source and movement of funds under scrutiny.
“Kitang-kita na ng taumbayan ang galaw: dalawang korte, iisang layunin—magtago,” Chua said, adding that the pattern of legal actions suggests an attempt to block public access to information.
He noted that Duterte has reportedly sought relief from the Supreme Court, while Carpio has pursued separate legal remedies in lower courts. For Chua, the parallel actions point to a shared objective of halting disclosure.
“Magkaibang korte ang tinatakbuhan, pero iisa lang ang gustong mangyari—pigilan ang paglabas ng katotohanan,” he said.
The lawmaker also raised concerns over what he described as the Vice President’s refusal to directly address questions raised during congressional proceedings, instead opting for public statements and legal challenges.
“Sa halip na humarap sa Kongreso at sumagot sa ilalim ng panunumpa, puro press conference, social media statements, at pagtakbo sa korte ang ginagawa,” he said. “Kung walang tinatago, bakit hindi harapin ang mga tanong nang direkta?”
Chua said the public has a right to see official financial documents, including records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which he said are crucial in determining whether declared income matches actual financial activity.
“Simple lang ang hinihingi ng taumbayan—ilabas ang AMLC at BIR records. Doon makikita kung saan galing ang pera at kung tama ang deklarasyon,” he said.
He stressed that the issue should not be viewed through a political lens but as a matter of transparency and public accountability, particularly since it involves billions of pesos in questioned transactions.
“Hindi ito tsismis o haka-haka. Opisyal na dokumento ang pinag-uusapan,” Chua said. “Kung malinis, bakit tinatakpan? Kung maayos, bakit pinipigilan?”
Chua ended his remarks with a pointed challenge, urging the Vice President’s camp to directly address the allegations rather than rely on legal and public relations strategies.
“Bilyon-bilyong piso ang pinag-uusapan. Saan nanggaling—at bakit kailangang itago?” he said.