MANILA, Philippines – Nagkabanggaan ang depensa at prosekusyon sa probisyon sa confidentiality ng Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ito ay bago ang nakatakdang pagtestigo ni Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronell Buenaventura.
Tinalakay kasi ng korte ang isyu matapos na humiling si lead defense counsel Atty. Sheila Sison na ilipat sa Lunes ang pagharap ni Buenaventura para mabigyan ng sapat na oras ang depensa na maghanda para sa mga dokumento na ipipresenta kasabay ng testimonya nito.
Ipinunto ni Sison na ang depensa ay may panibagong objection patungkol sa absolute confidentiality ng AMLC records.
Tinukoy niya ang liham mula kay Buenaventura na nagsasabing ang AMLC ay “not waiving the confidentiality of AMLC records.”
Dito na niya tinukoy ang kahalagahan ng ruling ng impeachment court na pumapayag sa hiling na subpoena sa mga rekord ng AMLC na patungkol lamang sa paglalabas ng subpoena at hindi sa anumang “eventual objection at the proper time that will come from the respondent.”
“Also, in the journal that we have reviewed on that ruling, it cited the case of Republic vs Sandiganbayan to justify the grant of the request for subpoena,” sinabi ni Sison.
“But we would note that that case was decided at the time when the amendatory law, Republic Act 11521, was not yet in effect and the facts of the case obtained were under the old law and before the passage of the new law providing for the absolute confidentiality of the AMLC record,” dagdag pa niya.
Sumagot naman si House prosecutor Chel Diokno at sinabing ang impeachment court ay nagdesisyob na sa usapin sa pamamagitan ng kaparehong ruling na tinukoy ni Sison.
Ipinunto niya na ang korte ay partikular na tinukoy ang Section 8-A, o confidentiality provision ng AMLA sa regulasyon sa “unauthorized and arbitrary disclosures by AMLC personnel.”
“It does not and constitutionally cannot nullify the lawful subpoena powers of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court,” sinabi ni Diokno.
Ipinunto niya rin na ang ruling ay hindi pwedeng hamunin ng depensa o prosekusyon at ang senator-judges lamang ang maaaring umapela sa usapin.
“In that respect, the statements of the defense are really in the nature of reconsideration, which I said is not allowed,” aniya.
Dito na kumontra si Sison at sinabing ang korte mismo ay kinikilala ang “absolute confidentiality involving AMLC personnel.”
“And the witness about to be presented by the prosecution today is undeniably, not only an AMLC personnel but an executive director of its secretariat,” sinabi pa ni Sison.
Hinamon naman ni Diokno ang punto ni Sison at sinabing kung kinikilala ng korte ang absolute confidentiality sa AMLC records, “then why did the court issue the subpoena in the first place.”
Sinabi naman ni Presiding Officer at Senator-Judge Francis Escudero na hindi ikinokonsidera ng korte ang sinabi ni Sison bilang “motion for reconsideration.”
Sa halip, ito ay isang hiling para ipagpaliban ang pagharap ng witnes.
“Again, out of abundance of caution, just for them to be able to look at it again … and in order to afford any senator-judge ample opportunity and time as well to raise a question should anyone decide to do so on Monday,” ani Escudero.
“So out of courtesy and equity, the chair grants the time requested by the counsel for respondent for time to prepare for the direct and cross-examination of the AMLC witness on Monday,” dagdag ni Escudero. RNT/JGC
