APRIL 26, 2026 — Mans Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has escalated the political storm by filing a criminal complaint against House members, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr., and AMLC officials over the alleged leak of confidential bank records. He claims the disclosures were illegal, absolute violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Bank Secrecy Law, and the Data Privacy Act, and were weaponized for “black propaganda” ahead of the 2028 elections.

Carpio lodged the case before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, naming AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura and House Justice Committee members Gerville Luistro, Percival Cendaña, Chel Diokno, and Leila De Lima. He insists that Section 8A of the AMLA prohibits disclosure “in any manner” of bank reports submitted to AMLC, with no exceptions. According to him, the leak covered not just bank transactions but also insurance payments, time deposits, investments, and even utility bills.

Representative Leila De Lima pushed back, saying the House inquiry is lawful and that impeachment proceedings are sui generis — unique in nature — and not bound by bank secrecy prohibitions. She argued that the committee subpoenaed suspicious and covered transactions, not direct bank accounts, and stressed that the inquiry will continue.

The AMLC reportedly flagged ₱6.7 billion worth of suspicious transactions linked to Duterte and Carpio between 2006 and 2025. Carpio counters that these disclosures are politically motivated, designed to smear his family and influence the 2028 presidential race, where Sara Duterte has already declared her candidacy. 

He frames the issue as not just personal defense but a fight to protect the integrity of the banking system and the privacy of ordinary Filipinos.

The case highlights the tension between transparency in governance and privacy in finance, a balance that directly affects public trust.

In a battle between privacy rights and the people’s right to know, which matters more to you? Do you think Carpio is right to guard his family’s privacy, or should transparency take the driver’s seat when the nation’s money is in question?

(Image: Wow Davao | Facebook)