Palace distances itself from criminal raps filed by VP Sara's husband over bank account disclosure
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro
Malacañang said anyone has the right to file a case, distancing itself from the move of lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, to file criminal charges on the disclosure of bank accounts and violation of privacy.
Carpio on Monday, April 27, filed criminal charges against Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. as chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the executive director of AMLC, and four members of the House of Representatives (HOR).
This, after AMLC disclosed during the Vice President's impeachment proceedings that it had flagged nearly P6.8 billion worth of transactions from bank accounts linked to Duterte and her husband from 2006 to 2025.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the matter is no longer within the control of the Palace.
She, however, questioned whether the case would prosper.
"Karapatan po ninuman na magsampa ng kaso. Ang tanong lamang po, kung ito ay magpo-prosper (It is anyone’s right to file a case. The only question is whether it will prosper)," Castro said when sought for reaction on Carpio's move.
"So hindi na po hawak ng Palasyo at ng Pangulo kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng korte (So it is no longer within the control of the Palace or the President what the court’s decision will be)," Castro added.
The Palace mouthpiece also said the outcome of the cases is now up to the courts—whether to dismiss or proceed with it.
"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 (Our courts, judges, and justices are intelligent, so they know which laws to apply and how a case may be dismissed or allowed to proceed)," Castro said.