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Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) cannot be used to shield public officials from scrutiny, stressing that the Constitution requires accountability “at all times.”
He noted that legal action questioning the disclosure of bank records linked to Vice President Sara Duterte may imply that the accounts exist, since there would be no basis to file complaints if the records were fabricated.
Carpio clarified that AMLA only prohibits voluntary disclosure, but does not override subpoenas issued by Congress, particularly in impeachment proceedings. He emphasized that bank secrecy laws do not apply in impeachment, including during House investigations.
He added that allowing AMLA to block access to financial records would create a loophole where public officials could evade accountability by simply depositing funds in banks.