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Advocates Philippines
De Lima, Diokno, Cendana Hit Back At Carpio Complaint Amid VP Sara Impeachment Case
Photo credit: Akbayan Partylist
Reps. Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, and Percival Cendaña have dismissed a criminal complaint filed by lawyer Manases Carpio, calling it harassment and a deliberate attempt to derail the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The three minority lawmakers appeared before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday for a preliminary investigation into allegations that they violated the Bank Secrecy Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The complaint stemmed from their move to subpoena records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council during congressional impeachment proceedings.
The disputed financial documents were reportedly used in hearings that examined transactions linked to Duterte and Carpio, with lawmakers citing concerns over alleged unexplained wealth.
Speaking to reporters, De Lima said the complaint was meant to distract from the main issues surrounding the impeachment case.
“Panlilihis lang talaga ito sa mga tunay na issue. Para sa amin, harassment ‘yan,” De Lima said.
She also noted that similar complaints were filed not only against them but also against officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other agencies involved in providing financial data during the hearings.
“These are all harassment. Alam naman nila ‘yan lalo na kami, kaming mga members of the Committee on Justice, the members of the House, wala naman po kaming nilabag na batas dito,” she added.
The lawmakers said the AMLC data presented in the hearings showed transactions totaling billions of pesos spanning years of public service, which they said raised questions about the vice president’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
De Lima warned they may file countercharges if the complaint is dismissed.
“Wala pong katuturan itong ganitong kaso,” she said.
Cendaña, for his part, described the complaint as political retaliation.
“Itong pahayag ng kaso sa mga complainants natin sa impeachment, ito ‘yung classic Duterte moves, yung pananakot at pangharas,” he said.
“So again, this is classic Duterte sending a chilling effect to our citizens who will rise up and call them out for their abuse of power,” he added.
Diokno also defended their actions, saying lawmakers were simply fulfilling their constitutional duties in pursuing accountability.
“We are fully confident of our legal position,” he said. “Hindi pwedeng i-weaponize ang batas para patahimikin ang mga gumagawa lang ng kanilang trabaho.”
The trio also reiterated that the Senate is constitutionally required to proceed with the impeachment trial once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted.
“When the Constitution says conduct a trial forthwith, ibig sabihin ilatag ng ebidensya, testigo at dokumento,” Diokno said.
Cendaña warned that dismissing the case without trial would further damage the Senate’s credibility.
“Nakakahiya ang Senado kung kanilang pipigilan pa ‘yung paglilitis na ito,” he said.
The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte in a 257-25-9 vote before formally transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on May 13.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier announced that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 18.
De Lima and Diokno said they are prepared to attend the proceedings as impeachment prosecutors, signaling readiness to move forward with the case.
The three minority lawmakers appeared before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday for a preliminary investigation into allegations that they violated the Bank Secrecy Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The complaint stemmed from their move to subpoena records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council during congressional impeachment proceedings.
The disputed financial documents were reportedly used in hearings that examined transactions linked to Duterte and Carpio, with lawmakers citing concerns over alleged unexplained wealth.
Speaking to reporters, De Lima said the complaint was meant to distract from the main issues surrounding the impeachment case.
“Panlilihis lang talaga ito sa mga tunay na issue. Para sa amin, harassment ‘yan,” De Lima said.
She also noted that similar complaints were filed not only against them but also against officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other agencies involved in providing financial data during the hearings.
“These are all harassment. Alam naman nila ‘yan lalo na kami, kaming mga members of the Committee on Justice, the members of the House, wala naman po kaming nilabag na batas dito,” she added.
The lawmakers said the AMLC data presented in the hearings showed transactions totaling billions of pesos spanning years of public service, which they said raised questions about the vice president’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
De Lima warned they may file countercharges if the complaint is dismissed.
“Wala pong katuturan itong ganitong kaso,” she said.
Cendaña, for his part, described the complaint as political retaliation.
“Itong pahayag ng kaso sa mga complainants natin sa impeachment, ito ‘yung classic Duterte moves, yung pananakot at pangharas,” he said.
“So again, this is classic Duterte sending a chilling effect to our citizens who will rise up and call them out for their abuse of power,” he added.
Diokno also defended their actions, saying lawmakers were simply fulfilling their constitutional duties in pursuing accountability.
“We are fully confident of our legal position,” he said. “Hindi pwedeng i-weaponize ang batas para patahimikin ang mga gumagawa lang ng kanilang trabaho.”
The trio also reiterated that the Senate is constitutionally required to proceed with the impeachment trial once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted.
“When the Constitution says conduct a trial forthwith, ibig sabihin ilatag ng ebidensya, testigo at dokumento,” Diokno said.
Cendaña warned that dismissing the case without trial would further damage the Senate’s credibility.
“Nakakahiya ang Senado kung kanilang pipigilan pa ‘yung paglilitis na ito,” he said.
The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte in a 257-25-9 vote before formally transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on May 13.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier announced that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 18.
De Lima and Diokno said they are prepared to attend the proceedings as impeachment prosecutors, signaling readiness to move forward with the case.
May 15, 2026
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