THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has confirmed that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, were flagged in multiple confidential reports filed by banks, citing suspected links to drug trafficking, corruption and misuse of public funds.
Testifying at Wednesday’s impeachment hearing of the House Committee on Justice, AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura said the findings were contained in a 15-page confidential information-sharing document submitted to the panel, portions of which were read into the record during questioning by Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
According to Buenaventura, the Vice President “was the subject of suspicion in 27 confidential reports submitted by covered persons on 2 August 2024 to 29 January 2026,” citing “suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, graft and corrupt practices, and malversation of public funds and property.”
He said the suspicions of drug trafficking and related offenses were “triggered in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s war on drugs, as well as by news reports alleging the involvement of VP Sara’s husband in the Php6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017.”
On the other hand, Buenaventura said the suspicions involving graft and corrupt practices and malversation of public funds were based on “news articles related to the impeachment case filed against VP Sara in 2025, as well as alleged misuse of confidential/intelligence funds.”
Asked by De Lima about the source of the information, Buenaventura made clear that the reports originated from regulated financial institutions required to flag suspicious activity.
“This one is reported by the banks, by the covered persons, Madam Chair,” he said, confirming that the submissions were formally transmitted to the AMLC.
The AMLC also disclosed similar findings involving Carpio.
Reading from the same document, Buenaventura stated that Carpio “was the subject of suspicion in 17 confidential reports submitted by covered persons on 14 September 2017 to 25 April 2025,” also citing “suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses and malversation of public funds and property.”
“For drug trafficking and related offenses,” he said, the reports were “triggered in connection with the news report on alleged involvement in the Php6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017,” while allegations of malversation were “triggered by news articles in relation to his wife, VP Sara’s alleged misuse of confidential/intelligence funds.”
De Lima underscored the significance of the disclosures, noting that the AMLC document itself establishes that derogatory reports had been recorded against Duterte and her husband.
“So, pinapakita po nito na meron pala kayong talagang nakuha o nailagay, nai-report na derogatory records involving the two subjects of your confidential information sharing,” she said.
“Based on records, yes, Madam Chair,” Buenaventura replied.
The testimony places the country’s top financial intelligence body squarely into the widening scrutiny over Duterte, whose handling of confidential funds and financial disclosures is now under review in House impeachment proceedings.
Under Philippine law, banks and other “covered persons” are required to report suspicious and large transactions to the AMLC, which consolidates and analyzes the data for potential money laundering and related offenses.
The confirmation of such reports involving a sitting vice president underscores the gravity of the impeachment case, which, among other allegations, includes claims of unexplained wealth.
