Financial forensic analyst Alexander “Alex” Cabrera said Monday he had no concerns about receiving documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for his examination of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, noting that the records had already been submitted to the House of Representatives as part of the impeachment proceedings.

Cabrera made the statement during the 38th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial on Oct. 12, in response to questions from defense counsel Kristine Ferrer about the confidentiality of AMLC documents and bank records used in his analysis.

Ferrer asked Cabrera, a lawyer, whether he was concerned that receiving AMLC documents and related information without authorization from the impeachment court could violate laws on confidentiality.

Cabrera said he considered the receipt of the documents acceptable because they had already been discussed and contested in the House.

“Dahil na-take up na po sa House at pinagtalunan na po sa House kaya po ang nasa isip ko ay okay lang po yon na tanggapin ko,” the witness said.

Ferrer also questioned whether Cabrera had concerns about receiving copies of bank records without authorization from the impeachment court, citing the Bank Secrecy Law.

Section 2 of Republic Act No. 1405 generally protects bank deposits from examination or inquiry, but provides exceptions, including cases of impeachment.

House prosecutor Chel Diokno then clarified that Cabrera had earlier testified that he had not yet received the bank records when he was provided with other documents in early June.

Ferrer countered that her questions concerned Cabrera’s receipt of the documents, not the period before the bank records were provided to him.

Cabrera later cited Section 8 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which addresses property that is manifestly disproportionate to a public official’s income.

He said the law provides for the submission of bank deposits in connection with such an inquiry.

“Kaya po ako hindi concerned sa 3019 po na siya pong Section 8 na nagsasabing yung acquisition po ng property na manifestly disproportionate sa income… nasa batas po yung bank deposits, kailangan i-provide.”

When Ferrer asked whether his answer was that he had no concerns about receiving the bank records without authorization from the impeachment court, Cabrera replied in the affirmative.