Cayetano: Verification gaps in AMLC reports set dangerous precedent for future probes
Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday flagged the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for submitting to the Senate Impeachment Court a report containing news-based allegations without showing independent verification, warning that it sets a “dangerous precedent” and creates confusion rather than clarity.
“This trial is to clarify and not to confuse… To put ‘AMLC’ there and put a signature [na] parang official [document] na siya, this is just an official ‘Marites’ report in the end,” Cayetano said during Day 33 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on October 5.
His manifestation came as AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Atty. Ronel Buenaventura testified about a report whose narrative cited news articles and statements made during House Committee hearings on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and drug-related accusations.
Buenaventura said it was the bank that had prepared the original report and that the AMLC was only mirroring its findings as submitted.
Cayetano criticized the AMLC for not conducting an independent investigation into the bank’s report before certifying it, especially since there was no indication in the report that the bank had conducted its own verification beyond what it saw in the news.
“AMLC has the power to take a look at the report of the banks,” he said. “Magsa-submit kayo ng report [base sa] ganito na narinig lang natin lahat, nabasa sa dyaryo?”
He pointed to a portion of the AMLC-certified document that indicated “malversation of public funds” but showed no independent verification on the part of the bank.
“Dito mismo sa page 6, [ang nakasulat]: ‘Triggered in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs as well as by news report alleging the involvement of VP Sara in P6.4 billion shabu importation 2017,’” he read.
“Nilagyan lang nila ng narrative after nila mabasa sa dyaryo. There’s nothing in this report that shows that the bank went beyond newspaper reports,” he continued.
Cayetano warned that circulating allegations in this manner, especially by the AMLC, makes political persecution easier and affects future investigations and public trust.
“This is such a dangerous precedent… We’re talking about the future of our country here. We’re talking about trust of people to our leaders,” he said.
Cayetano reiterated his call for fairness in the impeachment process by ensuring that any evidence presented is truthful and factual.
“Again, in the end, fairness ang kailangan natin dito sa impeachment court,” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano: Mapanganib na halimbawa ang kulang na beripikasyon ng AMLC
Pinuna ni Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Lunes ang Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) dahil sa pagsusumite nito sa Senate Impeachment Court ng ulat na naglalaman ng mga paratang na galing lang sa balita, nang walang ipinakitang independiyenteng beripikasyon.
Aniya, mapanganib na halimbawa ito at magdudulot ng kalituhan sa halip na kalinawan.
“This trial is to clarify and not to confuse… To put ‘AMLC’ there and put a signature [na] parang official [document] na siya, this is just an official ‘Marites’ report in the end,” wika ni Cayetano sa ika-33 araw ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong October 5.
Ang tinutukoy ng senator-judge ay ang dokumentong tinestiguhan ni AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Atty. Ronel Buenaventura na naglalaman ng mga bank transaction ng Bise Presidente na minarkahang kahina-hinala base sa mga nalathalang balita at mga pagdinig ng Kongreso tungkol sa umano’y maling paggamit ng Bise Presidente ng confidential funds at mga paratang na may kaugnayan sa droga.
Ayon kay Buenaventura, ang bangko ang gumawa ng orihinal na ulat at isinaad lamang ng AMLC sa kanilang dokumento kung ano ang isinumite sa kanila.
Giit ni Cayetano, dapat ay nagsagawa ng sariling imbestigasyon ang AMLC sa ulat ng bangko bago ito sinertipikahan, lalo’t wala aniyang indikasyon na nagsagawa ang bangko ng sarili nitong beripikasyon bukod sa mga nabasa nito sa balita.
“AMLC has the power to take a look at the report of the banks,” pahayag ni Cayetano. “Magsa-submit kayo ng report [base sa] ganito na narinig lang natin lahat, nabasa sa dyaryo?”
Itinuro niya ang isang bahagi ng dokumento ng AMLC kung saan may nakasulat na “malversation of public funds” gayong wala namang naipakitang beripikasyong ginawa sa parte ng bangko.
“Dito mismo sa page 6, [ang nakasulat]: ‘Triggered in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs as well as by news report alleging the involvement of VP Sara in P6.4 billion shabu importation 2017,’” pagbasa niya.
“Nilagyan lang nila ng narrative after nila mabasa sa dyaryo. There’s nothing in this report that shows that the bank went beyond newspaper reports,” dagdag niya.
Babala ni Cayetano, ang ganitong basta-basta pagpapaikot ng mga alegasyon, lalo ng AMLC, ay nagbibigay-daan sa “political persecution” at may epekto aniya sa mga susunod na imbestigasyon at tiwala ng publiko.
“This is such a dangerous precedent… We’re talking about the future of our country here. We’re talking about trust of people to our leaders,” aniya.
Muling siyang nanawagan para sa patas na proseso sa paglilitis sa pamamagitan ng pagtiyak na totoo at batay sa mga katotohanan ang mga ebidensyang inihaharap sa korte.
“Again, in the end, fairness ang kailangan natin dito sa impeachment court,” pahayag ni Cayetano.
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