THE P6.7 billion in alleged financial transactions linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband could finance government assistance and essential services benefiting millions of Filipino families, motorists, patients and students.
House lead prosecutor on unexplained wealth and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon used the potential public benefit of the same amount to illustrate the extraordinary scale of the transactions being examined under Article II.
“Kayang pondohan ng ganito kalaking mga transaksyon ang: ayuda para sa 1.6 milyong pamilya, fuel subsidy para sa 1.3 milyong namamasada, gastos sa ospital para sa 1.9 milyong pasyente at pag-aaral sa kolehiyo ng lagpas 893,000 mag-aaral,” Ridon stressed Tuesday.
The Senate Impeachment Court granted subpoenas for specified bank and Anti-Money Laundering Council records after finding them sufficiently definite, relevant and material to the unexplained wealth allegations against Duterte.
“P6.7 billion in total transactions. P4.4 billion in inflows,” Ridon noted.
The banks, AMLC and Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner were directed to submit the required records or make the appropriate return to the Impeachment Court by July 30.
“Mula ngayon hanggang July 30, magbabantay ang prosekusyon para hulihin, hindi isda, hindi pating, kundi balyena ng ebidensiya,” Ridon declared.
The P6.7-billion figure refers to total financial transactions identified in AMLC reports over nearly two decades and not to a single account balance held by the couple.
“Sa loob ng halos 20 taon, kasinglaki ng mga transaksyon ng gobyerno ang gumalaw sa mga bangko ng mag-asawang Duterte-Carpio,” Ridon pointed out.
Article II accuses Duterte of failing to fully disclose her wealth and of accumulating assets allegedly disproportionate to her lawful income during her years in public service.
“Subalit sino at ano sila? Opisyal ng gobyerno, mga abogado, may mga naluluging mga negosyo, pero kasinglaki ng gobyerno ang mga transaksyon sa bangko,” Ridon said.
“’Yan ang buod ng artikulo ng unexplained wealth, ‘yan ang buod ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman ng Pangalawang Pangulo,” he added.
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