Political trial prosecutors to seek summons for Sara bank records

The political trial prosecutors of the House of Representatives are preparing to request citations for the bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte once the Senate meets as a court of political trial on June 2, with the aim of strengthening the case Against her.

The representative of Manila, Joel Chua, a member of the Chamber Prosecutor’s team, confirmed that legal routes are being explored to obtain relevant financial records for specific articles in political trial positions against Duterte.

He cited the exception of the Bank Secret Law for cases of political trial, affirming the intention of the Prosecutor’s Office to use all legal means to ensure relevant financial documents together with the existing evidence.

Political trial articles, transmitted to the Senate on February 5, remain pending since the upper chamber has not yet been formally convened as a political trial court.

Chua pointed to article XI, Section 3 (6) of the 1987 Constitution, which gives the Senate the exclusive power to try to decide cases of political trial. He also underlined the Law of the Republic 1405 (Bank Secret Law), which generally protects the confidentiality of bank records, but explicitly allows exceptions for political trial procedures.

Duterte’s bank accounts, as well as those of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, have faced scrutiny in the past. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes previously supposed a massive richness not revealed in these accounts, a problem that resurfaced during the audiences of the Quad Committee of the House of Representatives.

The legal precedent to cite the bank records in political trial judgments was established in the 2012 political trial of the then president of the Supreme Court Renato Corona, whose financial records were used to prove the accusations of malcribed wealth and the non -dissemination of assets in its declaration of assets and liabilities, leading to their conviction and removal of the position.

Similarly, political trial articles against Sara Duterte include accusations of poorly obtained wealth, which makes their financial records a crucial point of investigation.

Prosecutors of the House of Representatives are also looking to work with the Council against Money Wash (AMLC) and the Audit Commission (COA) to trace financial transactions that may be linked to alleged irregularities that involve public funds.

Despite the legislative breakup, Chua assured the public that the prosecutor’s team is reviewing the existing evidence, ensuring additional documentary records, coordinating with financial agencies for greater investigation and preparing key witnesses to the trial.