Defense and prosecution spar over AMLA secrecy rules in Duterte trial

MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte became the stage for a heated disagreement between the defense and prosecution regarding the confidentiality safeguards embedded in the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

The dispute arose as the court prepared for testimony from Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronell Buenaventura. Lead defense counsel Atty. Sheila Sison submitted a formal request seeking modifications to how Buenaventura's appearance would proceed, citing the law's confidentiality provisions as her basis.

The AMLA's confidentiality rules restrict the disclosure of financial information gathered during money laundering investigations, a protection designed to safeguard both investigations and individuals' privacy. The tension reflects a broader legal challenge: balancing the need for transparency in high-profile impeachment proceedings against statutory protections that exist for legitimate investigative purposes.

No resolution to the dispute was immediately apparent, with the court's handling of the confidentiality question likely to set an important precedent for how sensitive financial information is treated in future legislative proceedings. The trial continues to grapple with complex questions at the intersection of parliamentary oversight and financial privacy law.