House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon clarified on Friday, July 17, that records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) are not protected by "absolute confidentiality," as he defended the prosecution's request for AMLC documents in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking during a House press conference, Ridon disputed claims that the AMLC is legally prohibited from disclosing financial records under all circumstances, stressing that the law itself provides mechanisms for sharing information with other government agencies.
According to Ridon, the confidentiality provisions under the AMLC should not be interpreted as an absolute prohibition against the release of information.
"Pangalawa, yung usapin po na AMLC documents, ang kailangan po natin linawin doon at hindi naman po yung nakalagay sa provision po na ipinapakita nila, hindi po totoo yung absolute confidentiality of AMLC. Kasi meron din po kalangkap," Ridon said.
"Noon pong provision na binabanggit nila on confidentiality of AMLC, yung pong pagkakaroon ng information sharing mechanisms with other agencies. So, ibig sabihin, hindi ho totoo na absolutely hindi ho pwedeng mag-disclose ang AMLC," he added.
Ridon explained that while AMLC information is generally treated as confidential, the law contains provisions that allow the council to share relevant information with other government agencies under specific circumstances.
The House prosecutor made the clarification amid discussions over the prosecution panel's motion seeking the issuance of subpoenas for AMLC documents as part of the evidence in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.
The Senate impeachment court is expected to rule on the prosecution's pending motions, including requests for subpoenas covering the Vice President's bank records, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records, and AMLC reports, when trial proceedings resume.
