THE ₱4.4 billion in alleged covered and suspicious transactions involving Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, has placed a documented financial trail before the Senate impeachment court, House prosecution spokesperson Ace Barbers said Monday.
“Nakita na natin yung financial trail, at dito hindi na haka-haka. Hindi gawa-gawang kuwento. Ito po ay may resibo,” Barbers said after Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Ronel Buenaventura completed his direct testimony.
AMLC records showed ₱4,400,089,940.70 in reported covered and suspicious transactions involving Duterte, Carpio or both from 2007 to 2025. The total included about ₱1.63 billion in inflows, ₱1.31 billion in outflows and ₱1.46 billion whose direction could not be determined from the reports.
“Hindi po ibig sabihin na ₱4.4 billion lamang ang kanilang pera. Itong ₱4.4 billion ay summary ng kanilang covered and suspicious transactions as reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council,” Barbers said.
He said the records also covered cash withdrawals and insurance transactions involving Carpio, as well as time deposits and dollar transactions involving Duterte.
The AMLC presentation included ₱41 million that Carpio withdrew or encashed on August 6, 2024—₱23 million through BDO and ₱18 million through PNB. It also showed Cale88 Foods Corporation receiving ₱319.33 million in inward remittances from mainland China and Hong Kong. Carpio held a 47.5-percent interest in Cale88 through 2024.
Barbers said the prosecution would compare the records with Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
“Dahil dito, makikita natin kung may basihan yung paglobo ng kanyang net worth mula noong 2007 hanggang 2025,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said the figures must be matched with the Vice President’s sworn declarations.
“Ang SALN ay sinumpaang salaysay, pirmado, kung saan nagre-reflect doon ang yaman at kautangan ng isang opisyal. Hindi naman mali kung may pera ang isang tao. Hindi rin mali at maganda nga kung may negosyo ang isang tao. Subalit dapat magtugma ito sa SALN, sa dineklara ng isang opisyal,” Garin said.
Garin also questioned the basis of the China remittances received by Cale88.
“Ano ba ang resibo? Anong invoice? Anong pruweba? Bakit nagkaroon ng pagpapadala ng ₱319.3 million galing sa China?” she asked.
She criticized repeated defense objections during Buenaventura’s testimony.
“Kapag walang tinatago ay walang dapat katakutan. Kapag walang tinatago ay hindi dapat pigilan ang mga sasabihin ng ating AMLC executive director,” Garin said.
Barbers said the panel was asking for an explanation of the reported transactions.
“Hindi po natin sinasabi sa ngayon, sa puntong ito, na may krimen na nangyari, kundi kailangan magkaroon ng sapat na paliwanag,” he said.
metrosundaily
