The House Committee on Justice has begun its final hearing on impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, with its chairperson stressing that the Bank Secrecy Law cannot be used to hide unexplained wealth.
In his opening remarks, Justice Committee Chairperson Gerville Luistro said the previous proceedings were filled with numerical data drawn from official records, emphasizing that the discussions were based on documented information rather than opinions or speculation.
Luistro pointed out that Vice President Duterte declared no cash on hand or cash deposits in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). He described the absence of declared cash as something that should not be taken lightly.
The committee chair also criticized statements from Duterte’s camp that urged the public to be cautious, saying the remarks appeared to be a warning that lacked concern.
He responded that if the vice president was advising the public to be cautious, then she should also be truthful.
Luistro reiterated that the Bank Secrecy Law should not be used as a means to conceal unexplained wealth. He stressed that the purpose of the law is to protect legitimate bank deposits, not to cover up suspicious financial movements involving billions of pesos.
The hearing forms part of the ongoing review of impeachment complaints filed against the vice president.
Lawmakers are continuing to examine financial records and related matters as part of the proceedings. The final hearing is expected to address key issues raised during earlier sessions, focusing on documented figures and financial disclosures presented before the committee.
