Senate President flags questionable financial patterns in Duterte accounts

MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday highlighted irregularities in financial records submitted by Vice President Sara Duterte, drawing attention to transactions documented by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Gatchalian noted a significant concentration of financial activity during a specific period, observing that transactions attributed to the Vice President between 2009 and 2013 totaled approximately P2.7 billion. The Senate leader characterized this pattern as unusual while examining the documentation.

The comments emerged during senate proceedings as legislators continued scrutiny of the Vice President's financial disclosures. Gatchalian's observations focused on the volume and nature of transactions recorded during the five-year window, raising questions about the origins and purposes of the financial movements.

The AMLC, which serves as the nation's financial intelligence unit, maintains records of significant financial transactions and monitors accounts for compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. Gatchalian's remarks underscore ongoing legislative oversight of government officials' financial dealings and the use of available regulatory data in such reviews.