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AMLC Flags Spark Pressure On VP Sara Duterte As Aquino Says Questions Can't Be Ignored
Photo credit: Jose Aquino II
A Mindanao lawmaker is calling for clear answers after explosive testimony from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) placed Vice President Sara Duterte under fresh scrutiny in the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
Speaking during the House Committee on Justice hearings, Butuan City Rep. Jose Aquino II said the AMLC’s testimony carries serious weight and raises “grave and legitimate questions” that the vice president must directly address.
The AMLC revealed that Duterte was tagged as a “subject of suspicion” in 27 confidential reports filed between August 2024 and January 2026. These reports flagged alleged links to drug-related activities, corruption, and possible misuse of public funds. Separate records also showed her husband, Mans Carpio, was listed in 17 reports dating back to 2017, pointing to similar financial red flags.
Aquino stressed that this is not routine information but sworn testimony from the country’s financial intelligence unit presented in a constitutional process. For him, the volume and nature of the reports elevate the issue beyond politics.
The hearings also brought out that Duterte and her husband’s bank accounts were flagged for a total of ₱6.77 billion in covered and suspicious transactions spanning two decades. While the AMLC stopped short of drawing conclusions, it confirmed that 18 transactions linked to Duterte matched documents earlier presented by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV—a detail that adds weight to previous allegations.
Lawmakers also examined Duterte’s financial disclosures, noting a more than tenfold increase in her net worth—from 2007 to 2024—reaching ₱88.4 million. The panel further pointed to six straight years since 2019 where no cash or bank deposits were declared, a gap that appears inconsistent with AMLC records.
Aquino was careful to point out that none of these findings amount to a conclusion of guilt. Still, he said the information is too significant to dismiss.
“These disclosures don’t settle the case,” he explained in substance. “But they are too serious to downplay. The committee has a duty to face this evidence head-on.”
He emphasized that the panel’s role is limited to determining probable cause—not handing down a final verdict—and that the process must remain grounded in fairness and due process.
At the same time, Aquino underscored the expectation of transparency from top officials, saying public office comes with the responsibility to explain when serious allegations arise.
In the end, he said the committee will continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads—firmly but fairly—while ensuring that the rights of all parties are respected.
Speaking during the House Committee on Justice hearings, Butuan City Rep. Jose Aquino II said the AMLC’s testimony carries serious weight and raises “grave and legitimate questions” that the vice president must directly address.
The AMLC revealed that Duterte was tagged as a “subject of suspicion” in 27 confidential reports filed between August 2024 and January 2026. These reports flagged alleged links to drug-related activities, corruption, and possible misuse of public funds. Separate records also showed her husband, Mans Carpio, was listed in 17 reports dating back to 2017, pointing to similar financial red flags.
Aquino stressed that this is not routine information but sworn testimony from the country’s financial intelligence unit presented in a constitutional process. For him, the volume and nature of the reports elevate the issue beyond politics.
The hearings also brought out that Duterte and her husband’s bank accounts were flagged for a total of ₱6.77 billion in covered and suspicious transactions spanning two decades. While the AMLC stopped short of drawing conclusions, it confirmed that 18 transactions linked to Duterte matched documents earlier presented by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV—a detail that adds weight to previous allegations.
Lawmakers also examined Duterte’s financial disclosures, noting a more than tenfold increase in her net worth—from 2007 to 2024—reaching ₱88.4 million. The panel further pointed to six straight years since 2019 where no cash or bank deposits were declared, a gap that appears inconsistent with AMLC records.
Aquino was careful to point out that none of these findings amount to a conclusion of guilt. Still, he said the information is too significant to dismiss.
“These disclosures don’t settle the case,” he explained in substance. “But they are too serious to downplay. The committee has a duty to face this evidence head-on.”
He emphasized that the panel’s role is limited to determining probable cause—not handing down a final verdict—and that the process must remain grounded in fairness and due process.
At the same time, Aquino underscored the expectation of transparency from top officials, saying public office comes with the responsibility to explain when serious allegations arise.
In the end, he said the committee will continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads—firmly but fairly—while ensuring that the rights of all parties are respected.
Apr 23, 2026
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