La Viña says bank records may prove key in Duterte trial

Former Ateneo dean Tony La Viña stated that Sara Duterte’s bank accounts could determine the outcome of her impeachment trial scheduled to start on July 6. He spoke at a forum in Manila on Saturday.

La Viña warned that failure to present the vice president’s official bank records could prove fatal to the case. He noted two potential obstacles: the impeachment court itself and a likely appeal to the Supreme Court.

The forum, organized by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance, also covered accusations of unexplained wealth. The Anti-Money Laundering Council previously flagged 33 suspicious transactions and 630 covered dealings worth P6.7 billion linked to Duterte and her husband.

La Viña added that conviction requires 16 of 24 senators. He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s influence on votes will be important, citing the 2012 conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Related Articles

A scene from the Philippine Senate impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Image generated by AI

Senate to convene as impeachment court on monday

Reported by AI Image generated by AI

The Philippine Senate will convene as an impeachment court on Monday to begin proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the session in a letter to colleagues. The move follows the House vote approving articles of impeachment.

The House committee on justice resumed impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte on April 22, 2026—day three—focusing on her alleged unexplained wealth. Lawmakers reviewed SALNs, SEC records, income tax returns, and heard from summoned witnesses including former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and AMLC chief Eli Remolona Jr., following key documents obtained on April 21.

Reported by AI

The House justice committee deferred opening a sealed box containing tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, presented by the Bureau of Internal Revenue during an impeachment hearing on April 22. In a 21-4 vote, members cited legal concerns under the National Internal Revenue Code prohibiting public disclosure outside executive sessions for legislative inquiries. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza signed the taped box, which remains in the committee's custody.

After wrapping up its first hearing on Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged bribery and misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, the House committee on justice will focus on her alleged unexplained wealth at its next session on April 22. House committee on justice chair Rep. Gerville Luistro announced this following a press conference on Tuesday.

Reported by AI

The House of Representatives is expected to vote Monday on transmitting articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate. Lawmakers say support has grown to at least 225 members, well above the 106 votes required.

The House justice committee will question self-proclaimed bagman Ramil Madriaga's credibility on April 14 in clarificatory hearings to assess probable cause for impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, following earlier calls for his testimony on confidential funds misuse.

Reported by AI

Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, plans to file criminal complaints today against Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, and several lawmakers for allegedly disclosing confidential bank records. The charges include violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Bank Secrecy Law, and Data Privacy Act. This follows the AMLC's revelation of transactions worth P6.77 billion linked to the couple from 2006 to 2025.

 

 

 

This website uses cookies

We use cookies for analytics to improve our site. Read our privacy policy for more information.
Decline