Banks have raised flags regarding several of Vice President Sara Duterte’s accounts, suspecting them of involvement in graft and corruption, drug trafficking, and the improper use of public funds. This information was given by Ronel Buenaventura, Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), on the day of the Duterte’s impeachment trial on October 5, 2026.
The AMLC serves as the Philippine government’s financial intelligence unit.
Buenaventura presented financial statements showing that both Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, were involved in transactions totaling 4.4 billion Philippine Pesos between 2007 and 2025.
The AMLC’s findings of possible irregularities are now key evidence in Article II of the impeachment case, accusing Duterte of unexplained wealth and failing to disclose assets.
Duterte’s lawyers opposed introducing the reports, arguing that the 55 suspicious transaction reports (STRs) concerning the couple were based on unverified news stories and could unfairly harm the vice president’s reputation.
Francis Escudero, the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, ignored the argument and ruled that the evidence should be admitted.
Suspicious transactions are those banks flag because they raise doubts about legitimacy, including possible links to illegal sources, regardless of the amount.
The case examines the Duterte’s supposed unexplained wealth and the fact that she has an interest in at least 10 companies, many of which, as shown in records kept by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have not paid dividends for years.
Prosecutors noted that the differences between Duterte’s official Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), which reportedly increased from 7.2 million Philippine Pesos in 2007 to more than 98 million Philippine Pesos by 2025, raise doubts regarding the origin of her wealth.
The Senate impeachment tribunal has to date declined to require Duterte to give testimony or to verify her financial records, on the grounds of her constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. Escudero mentioned the Bill of Rights, which ensures that even officials who have been impeached have a “right against self-incrimination.”
Three impeachment articles withdrawn
The prosecution team withdrew all but one article of impeachment on October 13, 2026, and will now focus exclusively on Article 2 (unexplained wealth) to speed up proceedings.
“We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” said lead prosecutor Gerville “Jinky” Luistro.
The Senate court accepted the withdrawal of the other articles, preventing their revival during Duterte’s term.
Defense lawyer Sheila Sison argued that the prosecution should not gain from its accusations without having them thoroughly examined. She cautioned that dismissing cases might lead to a mistrial if it compels the defense to shorten its evidence presentation. Despite this, her team will continue presenting evidence for the dropped articles.
New Senate voting threshold
The Supreme Court also dismissed the petitions submitted by Victor Rodriguez, Berteni Causing, and Ernesto Francisco, Jr. challenging the impeachment court’s decision to lower the number of votes required to convict Duterte, allowing the trial to continue with the new voting threshold.
The Senate reduced the threshold for a conviction on September 23, 2026, with thirteen senators in favor of the change and the chairperson, Chiz Escudero, voting against it. The revised rule states that only those senators who are “legally and factually capable” of taking part at the moment of the vote should be counted. Since there are 20 senators currently active, the two-thirds majority now required for a conviction is 14 votes and 7 votes are needed for an acquittal.
Rodriguez, the former executive secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stated in his petition that the impeachment court had altered the Philippine Constitution by adding a new qualification. He maintained that the law provides that “no person shall be convicted unless there is the agreement of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.”
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian stated that the impeachment trial could conclude by the mid-to-late part of November 2026, which is earlier than the earlier estimate of December 16.
The new timetable was the result of alterations made by both the prosecution and the senator-judges, including the exclusion of several witnesses and the arrangement of 11 full-day sessions.
Nevertheless, he pointed out a number of challenges lying ahead which could have an impact on the timetable, such as the interruption of the sessions in late October, the beginning of the plenary debates on the 2027 national budget in early November, and the ASEAN Summit taking place from November 16 to 18, 2026.
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