Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial proceeds with the scheduled testimony of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director Ronel U. Buenaventura. Sources report that he takes his oath as a prosecution witness for Article II and is expected to discuss alleged suspicious bank transactions, involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
However, the trial’s timeline and witness participation are shaped by disputes over the Anti-Money Laundering Act’s confidentiality provisions and the handling of documents for the testimony. Defense counsel raises concerns that AMLC-related summaries were provided too late for adequate preparation and that the documents carry a “confidential” mark. The court also considers arguments about whether confidentiality rules should bar or defer Buenaventura’s testimony.
Across outlets, the disagreement centers on how AMLC confidentiality applies in an impeachment setting and whether specific legal exceptions allow inquiry into financial records. While the defense seeks to move or exclude the witness, the impeachment court allows Buenaventura to testify despite objections. At one point, the trial is reported to end early due to late receipt and document confidentiality concerns raised by the defense, before the matter resumes with the witness scheduled to appear.
