LAWYER Mans Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has formally filed criminal complaints against key officials of financial regulatory bodies and several members of Congress over the disclosure of his bank transactions during proceedings at the House of Representatives.
The legal action was submitted before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, marking a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the financial records of the vice president and her family. Carpio was accompanied by his legal counsel, Atty. Peter Paul Danao, as he lodged the complaint and laid out the grounds for his case against the named respondents.
Named as respondents in the complaint are AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., the heads of the two primary agencies tasked with overseeing financial transactions and monitoring suspicious activities across the country.
Also included in the suit are House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro, Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima, and Akbayan Party-list Representatives Percival Cendaña and Chel Diokno, all of whom played key roles during the legislative inquiry where details regarding the bank records were presented and discussed publicly.
Carpio is accusing the respondents of committing violations of three major laws designed to protect financial information and personal data. These include the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Act, which strictly restricts the disclosure of any information regarding accounts held by individuals or entities; the Data Privacy Act, which governs the proper handling and protection of personal information; and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended, which outlines specific protocols and limitations on how financial information may be accessed, processed, or shared by authorities. The complaint asserts that the release and discussion of these details breached the legal safeguards put in place to ensure confidentiality and security.
In explaining the basis of their legal move, Atty. Danao emphasized that existing laws clearly prohibit agencies such as the AMLC from disclosing any details related to bank accounts or financial transactions.
“Nasa batas naman po ‘yan… na sinasabing bawal maglabas ng kahit anumang impormasyon ang AMLC,” he said in an interview, stressing that the prohibition is absolute. The legal counsel further pointed out that under Section 8(a) of the AMLA, there are no provisions or exceptions that authorize the agency to release such information, making the actions of the respondents unlawful and subject to legal penalties.
The filing of this complaint adds another layer to the political and legal debates currently unfolding, as it raises important questions about the balance between the public’s right to information, Congress’ power of inquiry, and the legal protections guaranteed to individuals regarding their financial and personal data.
As the case undergoes preliminary investigation, authorities will review the arguments and evidence presented by both sides to determine whether there is sufficient basis to proceed with formal charges against the respondents named in the suit.
