House Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro said the country’s bank secrecy law will not prevent the subpoena of bank records belonging to Sara Duterte if a motion is filed during impeachment proceedings.
Luistro explained that the committee is prepared to act should any party request the issuance of a subpoena to obtain the Vice President’s bank records, saying such documents could serve as key evidence in determining alleged questionable wealth.
“We are inclined to believe that this is the best opportunity para ilabas ang ebidensya, because that is very significant for the members of the justice committee to decide the existence of probable cause, which is in our step 5,” Luistro said in an interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos.
Luistro noted that impeachment proceedings are exempt from the provisions of the Bank Secrecy Law of the Philippines, allowing lawmakers to file the production of relevant financial documents.
According to the lawmaker, both parties involved in the impeachment process may file motions requesting the committee to exercise its power of compulsory process, including the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum for documents such as bank records and a subpoena ad testificandum to compel witnesses to testify before the panel.
She emphasized that presenting evidence is crucial for members of the Justice Committee as they determine whether probable cause exists against the Vice President.
One of the allegations in the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte involves a misdeclared Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and alleged unexplained wealth.
During the committee’s deliberations, Terry Ridon, representative of the Bicol Saro Party-list, disclosed that Duterte’s net worth allegedly increased by around ₱70 million over a 16-year period from 2008 to 2024.
Ridon said Duterte’s declared net worth was over ₱18 million in 2008, which he claimed rose to around ₱88 million by 2024.
The lawmaker added that if the complainants request it during the impeachment proceedings, the subpoena of Duterte’s bank records cannot be prevented.
