A House leader said the Senate impeachment trial would provide Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp the opportunity to explain allegations surrounding billions of pesos in flagged bank transactions, including the disputed P2-billion entry linked to Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the impeachment court is the proper forum to examine claims that the questioned transaction was merely the result of a Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) systems error.
“If there is indeed a valid explanation regarding the alleged P2-billion discrepancy, then the proper forum to fully clarify and defend that claim is the Senate impeachment trial,” Adiong said.
The statement came after lawyers representing Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, argued that a transaction previously reported as P2 billion was actually only P2 million and allegedly resulted from a banking system glitch.
During House hearings, AMLC records presented before lawmakers reportedly showed 630 covered transactions and 33 suspicious transactions amounting to P6.771 billion involving accounts linked to Duterte and Carpio over a 20-year period.
Documents discussed before the House Committee on Justice indicated that around P3.77 billion in transactions were allegedly linked to Duterte, while nearly P3 billion were attributed to Carpio.
Adiong stressed that the disputed entry does not automatically invalidate the other issues and transaction patterns raised during congressional hearings.
“One disputed entry does not automatically negate the other matters examined by the committee. That is precisely why a trial is necessary,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice earlier approved the finding of probable cause to impeach Duterte and endorsed the Articles of Impeachment for plenary approval.
Among the allegations included in the impeachment complaints are the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, suspicious financial transactions, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11. At least one-third of House members must vote in favor for the case to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.
Adiong said the impeachment proceedings would ultimately allow both sides to present evidence and defend their positions before the public.