Bank secrecy laws ‘no shield’ vs impeachment, says lawmaker

The House Committee on Justice said Wednesday that the country’s bank secrecy laws make specific exceptions for impeachment cases, potentially opening the door for a probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records.

Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, the committee’s vice chairperson, said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) can explore bank accounts when an impeachment complaint is active.

The statement follows requests in a pending complaint to subpoena bank records for the Vice President and her immediate family covering 2019 to 2025.

The requests stem from allegations of unexplained wealth and claims that Duterte failed to disclose certain assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Flores cited, however, that any inquiry should remain focused on the vice president’s actions during her current tenure. “I think that’s one of the things mentioned by the Supreme Court — that you can only accuse her of things done while she’s holding the impeachable position,” Flores said.

The committee is set to begin initial deliberations on Monday regarding four pending impeachment complaints. Before moving to the evidence, the panel must first determine if the complaints are sufficient in “form and substance.”

Flores explained that the process is similar to a preliminary investigation by a prosecutor. If the committee finds sufficient substance, Duterte will be given the opportunity to answer the allegations and may be called to face clarificatory questions.

Despite the Vice President’s recent announcement that she intends to run for president in 2028, Flores said he does not expect that to influence the committee’s vote. He noted that her candidacy was expected given her standing in public surveys.