Senator-judges call out defense over ‘threats’ on AMLA records disclosure
Senator-judges in an impeachment court have criticized the defense panel for allegedly intimidating a witness and the media regarding the disclosure of AMLC records. The defense repeatedly cited potential criminal liability for unauthorized disclosures, despite the court's prior authorization.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights tensions between legal defense strategies, judicial authority, and press freedom in high-stakes political proceedings.
MANILA, Philippines - Senator-judges of the impeachment court called out the defense panel for what they called veiled threats of criminal liability directed at the witness, the media and potentially the court itself over the disclosure of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records.
This was after defense counsel Mark Vinluan on Monday, October 5, repeatedly asked witness AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura about the strict confidentiality provisions of Sections 8A and 9C of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).
Vinluan, during his cross-examination of Buenaventura, even read the penal provisions of Section 14 of the law aloud, highlighting that unauthorized disclosures of confidential information carry prison terms of three to eight years, hefty fines, and absolute perpetual disqualification from public office for public officials.
He also pointedly noted that under Section 9C, members of the media who publish or report such confidential transactions could be held criminally liable.
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