Lead prosecution counsel Gerville Luistro said the defense’s line of questioning toward Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura during Day 33 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial amounted to a “sort of veiled threat” against those involved in the proceedings.
During the prosecution’s press conference after Monday’s hearing, Luistro said the defense repeatedly raised concerns over possible violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act’s confidentiality provisions while questioning Buenaventura.
“Clearly, yung pagtatanong sa cross is considered to be a sort of a veiled threat against the...” Luistro said, before her statement was cut off.
Luistro maintained that both the prosecution and defense should comply with the rules of the impeachment court, noting that the issue of confidentiality had already been ruled upon by Presiding Officer and Senate President Chiz Escudero.
She also cited Senator-Judge Kiko Pangilinan’s position that concerns over the ruling should be elevated to the Supreme Court instead of repeatedly being raised during the impeachment proceedings.
“Kung kayo'y may concern, do not raise it here. Elevate the issue to the Honorable Supreme Court,” Luistro quoted Pangilinan as saying.
Luistro also pointed out that the defense had sought a continuance of Monday’s hearing, which she said was partly due to its focus on the confidentiality issue.
The prosecution counsel expressed confidence that the House of Representatives did not violate the confidentiality provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) during the House Justice Committee proceedings that preceded the impeachment trial.
