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Advocates Philippines
Senate Trial Key To Explain P2-B Bank Dispute In VP Sara Case, Says Adiong
Photo credit: Congress PH
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said the upcoming Senate impeachment trial will give Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp the proper venue to fully explain the alleged P2-billion bank discrepancy linked to flagged transactions reported by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
In a statement on Saturday, Alonto Adiong stressed that the impeachment court is the appropriate forum where both sides can clarify contested claims, including allegations that the supposed P2-billion inflow was actually 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,” he said.
He added that the public deserves transparency, especially since the case involves billions of pesos flagged in financial monitoring reports.
“The Filipino people deserve clear answers, especially since these transactions involve enormous sums and were flagged by the AMLC itself,” he said.
The statement came after lawyers for Vice President Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, claimed that a reported P2-billion inflow reflected in AMLC-related documents was actually only P2 million and may have resulted from a banking system error.
During House hearings, the AMLC disclosed 630 covered transactions and 33 suspicious transactions totaling P6.77 billion involving accounts linked to Duterte and Carpio. Based on committee records, Duterte was associated with about P3.77 billion in transactions, while Carpio’s accounts were linked to nearly P3 billion.
Alonto Adiong said that even if one entry is disputed, it does not erase the broader findings of the House inquiry.
“One disputed entry does not automatically negate the other matters and transaction patterns examined by the committee. That is precisely why a trial is necessary,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice earlier voted 53-0 to find probable cause to impeach Duterte and later unanimously approved the committee report and Articles of Impeachment in a 55-0 vote for transmission to the plenary.
The impeachment complaints include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, AMLC-flagged transactions, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11, with at least one-third of members required to endorse it before it is transmitted to the Senate for trial.
House leaders earlier said they expect strong support for the complaint, with around 215 lawmakers reportedly backing the move—well above the constitutional threshold.
If the case proceeds to the Senate, Alonto Adiong said both sides will have full opportunity to present evidence and defend their positions.
“That is the essence of due process. Both sides will have the opportunity to lay down their evidence before the Filipino people,” he said.
In a statement on Saturday, Alonto Adiong stressed that the impeachment court is the appropriate forum where both sides can clarify contested claims, including allegations that the supposed P2-billion inflow was actually 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,” he said.
He added that the public deserves transparency, especially since the case involves billions of pesos flagged in financial monitoring reports.
“The Filipino people deserve clear answers, especially since these transactions involve enormous sums and were flagged by the AMLC itself,” he said.
The statement came after lawyers for Vice President Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, claimed that a reported P2-billion inflow reflected in AMLC-related documents was actually only P2 million and may have resulted from a banking system error.
During House hearings, the AMLC disclosed 630 covered transactions and 33 suspicious transactions totaling P6.77 billion involving accounts linked to Duterte and Carpio. Based on committee records, Duterte was associated with about P3.77 billion in transactions, while Carpio’s accounts were linked to nearly P3 billion.
Alonto Adiong said that even if one entry is disputed, it does not erase the broader findings of the House inquiry.
“One disputed entry does not automatically negate the other matters and transaction patterns examined by the committee. That is precisely why a trial is necessary,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice earlier voted 53-0 to find probable cause to impeach Duterte and later unanimously approved the committee report and Articles of Impeachment in a 55-0 vote for transmission to the plenary.
The impeachment complaints include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, AMLC-flagged transactions, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11, with at least one-third of members required to endorse it before it is transmitted to the Senate for trial.
House leaders earlier said they expect strong support for the complaint, with around 215 lawmakers reportedly backing the move—well above the constitutional threshold.
If the case proceeds to the Senate, Alonto Adiong said both sides will have full opportunity to present evidence and defend their positions.
“That is the essence of due process. Both sides will have the opportunity to lay down their evidence before the Filipino people,” he said.
May 9, 2026
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