Bank secrecy won’t shield unexplained wealth in impeach probe – solon

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

IMPEACHMENT HEARING. The House Committee on Justice resumes impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday (April 29, 2026). The panel is expected to rule on whether the impeachment complaints establish probable cause for trial. (Photo courtesy of House of Representatives)

MANILA – Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Wednesday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp cannot use bank secrecy to block scrutiny of suspicious financial records, stressing that the Constitution’s demand for public accountability carries greater weight in an impeachment proceeding.

The chair of the House Committee on Justice issued the statement as the panel resumed its inquiry into Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth despite fresh efforts to challenge the release of Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC) records and the committee’s subpoena power.

“Hindi nilikha ang bank secrecy para maging taguan ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman. Ang layunin ng bank secrecy ay protektahan ang lehitimong deposito, hindi pagtakpan ang kahina-hinalang galaw ng bilyon-bilyong piso (The bank secrecy law was not created to be the hiding place of unexplained wealth. The purpose of the bank secrecy law is to protect legitimate deposits, not to cover up the suspicious movement of billions of pesos),” Luistro pointed out.

She said the AMLC’s role is clear under the law and should not be distorted simply because the records now under examination are politically inconvenient.

“Ang papel ng AMLC ay siyasatin ang mga kahina-hinalang transaksyon at iulat ang mga ito sa kinauukulan, dahil ang pagpapalabas ng katotohanan ay hindi paglabag, kundi pagsunod lamang sa mas mataas na prinsipyo ng pananagutan (The role of the AMLC is to investigate suspicious transactions and report it to concerned authorities, because revealing the truth is not a violation but only adheres to the higher principle of accountability),” Luistro said.

She said the louder objection coming from Duterte’s camp only deepens the impression that the fight is no longer really about process, but about stopping damaging information from reaching the public domain.

“If there is nothing to hide, there is no reason to hide, no reason to obstruct. The only people who fear the disclosure of these transactions are those with dirty secrets,” Luistro said.

“Transparency is the only response of those with integrity; everything else is just an excuse.”