Mans Carpio’s bank records disclosure complaint junked

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City has recommended the dismissal of the complaint filed by Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, over the alleged violation of bank secrecy laws by several House members and government officials.

Based on the 23-page resolution, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office said the acts of the respondents were done in relation to their office, noting these “are not inherently immoral.”

“The issuance of a subpoena for the production of AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) reports, the manifestations made during the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines and the compliance with the subpoena – these acts were done by the respondents, public officers with Salary Grade 28 and higher, in relation to their office,” the resolution read.

“By no stretch of the imagination could we rule that these acts of the respondents were done in their private capacity,” it added.

Respondents are House justice panel chair Gerville Luistro, Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima, Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio, Akbayan party-list Reps. Percival Cendaña and Chel Diokno, Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.

State officials involved in the case are Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Francis Lim and AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura.

Carpio’s legal counsel Peter Paul Danao said they acknowledge the resolution and will review it once they receive a copy.

Meanwhile, Duterte appointed lawyer Paolo Panelo as her spokesman in the grave threats case she is facing before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and the ongoing impeachment trial against her.

Panelo is the son of former chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo, who served during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. – Bella Cariaso