A party-list group has described allegations involving bank transactions linked to Vice President Sara Duterte as “exaggerated,” raising concerns about how the issue is being presented to the public.
In a statement, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list criticized lawmakers, accusing some members of Congress of allegedly using their platform to mislead the public in the name of politics. The group claimed that public opinion appears to be influenced even before concrete evidence is formally presented regarding the allegations against Duterte.
The party-list said there has been no final conclusion so far amid the ongoing impeachment proceedings at the House Committee on Justice. It emphasized that the process remains active and unresolved.
According to the group, the Anti-Money Laundering Council presented reports during hearings that only detailed the movement of funds submitted by banks. It noted that these reports did not specifically identify the transactions as suspicious or questionable at this stage.
Bagong Henerasyon also explained that financial flows recorded under covered transaction reports, commonly received by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, are often capable of being explained by the individuals involved. The group stressed that the mere movement of funds does not automatically indicate personal gain.
The party-list further questioned the Justice panel’s review of covered transaction reports dating back to 2005. It pointed out that Duterte assumed the vice presidency only in 2022, raising concerns about the relevance of earlier financial records to the current proceedings.
The statement maintained that the existence of fund inflows and outflows alone should not be taken as proof of wrongdoing while the investigation remains ongoing.
