MANILA – Lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has filed a complaint against officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and several lawmakers over the reported disclosure of bank transaction information during proceedings at the House of Representatives.

In a report, Carpio filed the complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, accompanied by his legal counsel, Atty. Peter Paul Danao.

Named respondents include AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr., House Justice panel chair Gerville Luistro, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima, and Akbayan Party-list Representatives Percival Cendaña and Chel Diokno.

The complaint cites alleged violations of the Bank Secrecy Law, the Data Privacy Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended.

“Nasa batas naman po ‘yan… na sinasabing bawal maglabas ng kahit anumang impormasyon ang AMLC,” Danao said on Balitanghali.

He argued that Section 8(a) of the AMLA prohibits the release of any information, saying the law does not provide exceptions that would allow disclosure.

“Ang sinasabi doon, the AMLC shall not reveal any information, in any manner. Ibig sabihin, kahit anong paraan, hindi pwedeng ilabas ang impormasyon. Kung merong exception diyan, dapat sinabi sa batas, eh wala namang nakalagay na exception sa batas,” he said.

“Hindi naman porke’t may accusation ka o meron kang hinanaing sa isang tao, pwede ka nang gumawa ng labag sa batas, pwede ka na gumawa ng illegal,” he added.

The complaint comes after the House impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, where the AMLC reported that bank transactions totaling P6.7 billion—classified as covered and suspicious—were recorded under the names of the couple.

The AMLC also confirmed 18 bank transactions linked to Duterte and her family members that matched records cited in an affidavit by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Danao said Trillanes was not included in the complaint because his statements did not originate from the AMLC disclosure, but added that they may consider separate legal action.

“So it’s a separate incident. We will confer with our client, of course, anong pupwedeng separate action against kay Mr. Trillanes,” he said.

He also maintained that Carpio denies the reported figures.

“Noong nag-usap kami (Carpio), talagang dine-deny niya ‘yung sinasabing P3 billion o P6 billion daw na may laman doon sa accounts niya. Wala siyang ganoong pera,” Danao said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

Duterte’s defense team earlier questioned the presentation of the data before the House Justice panel, saying the figures appeared inflated due to aggregation of transactions over several years.

Danao said they would respond once they have seen the bank records.

“Parang mahirap yata mag comment sa isang bagay na hindi mo naman ,ikaw mismo, nakita. Pero kapag nakita namin ‘yan, eh sa tamang panahon, tamang paaran, aming saagutin,” he said.

In a statement, the BSP said Governor Remolona would respond appropriately upon receipt of the complaint, adding that both the BSP and AMLC remain guided by independence, professionalism, and due process.

Lawmakers named in the complaint defended the House proceedings, saying no laws were violated.

De Lima said impeachment proceedings are not covered by the Bank Secrecy Law and that the AMLA itself requires covered institutions to report suspicious transactions.

“The fact that evidence of ill-gotten wealth was exposed in the course of the impeachment proceedings does not make such exposure criminal. It is a direct consequence of impeachment as an accountability mechanism,” she said.

Cendaña also argued that the disclosure is allowed under law, saying, “Mas malinaw pa sa tanghaling tapat na Exception ang impeachment hearings sa coverage ng Bank Secrecy Law at Anti-Money Laundering Act.”

He added, “Pero advice ko sa kampo ni VP Sara, imbes na mag-aksaya sila ng papel at oras sa pagsasampa ng mga kaso humarap na lang si VP Sara sa April 29 sa Committee on Justice hearing. Doon siya magpaliwanag,” he said.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Carpio is within his rights to file a complaint but noted that its merit will be determined by the courts.

”Karapatan po ninuman na magsampa ng kaso. Ang tanong lamang po, kung ito ay magpo-prosper. So hindi na po hawak ng Palasyo at ng Pangulo kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng korte,” Castro said.

”Ang mga korte po natin, ang mga judges natin, pati justices ay matatalino. So, alam po nila kung ano ang dapat na gamiting batas at papaano ito madidismiss o magkakaroon ng progress,” she added.