VP Duterte Impeachment: AMLC Witness Admits No Proof of Illegal Funds

VP Duterte Impeachment: AMLC Witness Admits No Proof of Illegal Funds

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | October 7, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution’s case against Vice President Sara Duterte hit a major hurdle on Day 33 of her impeachment trial on Monday, October 5, 2026, as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director, Ronel Buenaventura, admitted under cross-examination that he lacked direct evidence to prove that billions in flagged transactions constituted unexplained or illegal wealth. This admission undermines Article II, the core charge alleging ill-gotten assets.

Buenaventura presented aggregated records totaling P4.4 billion in combined inflows and outflows linked to Duterte, her husband Atty. Manases Carpio, and associated entities since 2007. These included:

• P319.3 million from mainland China and Hong Kong to CALE88 Foods Corp., connected to Carpio.

• P193.7 million in joint accounts of Duterte and former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 28, 2014.

• P4.55 billion moving through 15 corporations with Duterte interests between 2022 and 2025.

• P1.46 billion in transactions with insufficient or unconfirmed sender/beneficiary details.

However, Buenaventura confirmed he could not personally verify if these funds were actual wealth or illegal proceeds, nor could he definitively label any transaction as unlawful. He stressed that Covered Transaction Reports (CTRs) and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) only trigger further investigation, not prove illegality. “I am only testifying based on the records… there was nothing that could make me conclude,” he stated when asked about money laundering.

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan highlighted this critical gap: “Even if the aggregate reaches hundreds of millions or billions, you cannot confirm based on personal knowledge or authentic records that this is also their true wealth?” Buenaventura replied, “No, I cannot say.”

The witness also acknowledged his recent appointment on April 14, 2026, and his reliance on data compiled by other AMLC units rather than independent verification.

Legal Clash Over Bank Records

The day began with Presiding Officer Senate President Francis Escudero denying a defense motion to exclude Buenaventura, citing Republic Act No. 1405, which permits bank deposit inquiry in impeachment cases, referencing the Renato Corona trial precedent.

This ruling sparked debate among senator-judges:

• Senator Imee Marcos, author of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), argued that foreign currency accounts are exempt.

• Senator Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the arbitrary application of STR thresholds.

• Senator Francis Pangilinan, AMLA’s principal sponsor, countered that barring AMLC from producing records would be absurd.

• Senator Pia Cayetano warned against stretching AMLA, risking due-process concerns.

Escudero reaffirmed that compliance with a lawful court order does not breach confidentiality.

Procedural Friction Mars Proceedings

Tensions ran high:

• Defense counsel protested their limited one-hour cross-examination after the prosecution’s full-day direct questioning.

• Senator Raffy Tulfo demanded public admonishment of court spokesperson Reginald Tongol for publicly suggesting a December 16 verdict, calling it premature. Escudero clarified it was a scheduling estimate.

• Escudero urged all parties to rise above “rantings or tantrums.”

• Senator Risa Hontiveros cautioned against chilling media coverage, affirming the public’s right to transparency.

Cross-examination was resumed on October 6.

Conclusion: Billions in Figures, Zero in Proof

After 33 days, the prosecution’s wealth case relies on voluminous transaction data, yet lacks conclusive links to wrongdoing. The unprecedented figures — hundreds of millions in single days, overseas funds, and unclear origins — remain unproven as illegal wealth by the state’s own witness. The gap between suspicion and concrete proof persists.

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