Sen. Risa Hontiveros questioned a Metrobank executive Wednesday over the bank’s process for filing suspicious transaction reports with the Anti-Money Laundering Council on the 35th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Atty. Niña Feren Aguilar, head of Metrobank’s Anti-Money Laundering Division, said the bank does not automatically file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) solely because a client is the subject of negative media reports.

Aguilar said the bank conducts further review of the customer’s transactions and may file additional STRs if warranted.

“We generally file a suspicious transaction report if we have identified our customer to be the subject of the negative media and conduct further review on the transactions,” Aguilar said during the hearing.

Hontiveros, one of the Senate judges in the impeachment proceedings, asked whether banks consider circumstances surrounding a transaction, including its amount, account activity and the profiles of the people sending and receiving the money.

Aguilar confirmed that negative media coverage is followed by further review of the customer’s transactions.

Hontiveros also asked whether bank tellers could directly submit STRs to the AMLC or whether the reports undergo an internal review and approval process.

Aguilar said STRs pass through Metrobank’s Anti-Money Laundering Division and require her approval before being submitted to the AMLC.

“The suspicious transaction reports, Your Honor, goes through my division, anti-money laundering division and would require my approval as well before filing with the AMLC,” Aguilar said.