AMLC’s Remark Proves False Claim Against President Duterte

The denial of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) that it had provided the Office of the Ombudsman with documents related to the bank transactions of President Rodrigo Duterte merely signified “false” accusations hurled against him, the President’s chief legal counsel said Friday, September 29.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo again hit Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang for making false statements about the supposed bank accounts of President Duterte and his family.

“He (Carandang) is part, wittingly or unwittingly, of spreading false reports and false information,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

On Thursday, the AMLC denied releasing the records of bank transactions of joint accounts of President Duterte and his family, contrary to Carandang’s earlier claim that the anti-graft body obtained the documents from the financial intelligence unit.

Carandang, who is leading the investigation against the President, recently said the Ombudsman had secured copies from AMLC about President Duterte and his family’s bank transactions that had amounted to over P1 billion.

The AMLC, however, said it has yet to evaluate the September 6 letter from Carandang, containing the request to release its copies of the bank records to start the probe about President Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth.

AMLC also denied being the source of documents previously released by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, President Duterte’s staunch critic who alleged that the President kept hidden wealth in his several bank accounts.

“We have categorically stated before that the AMLC is not the source of the documents and information attached by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV in his complaint, regarding the alleged bank accounts of President Rodrigo Duterte,” the AMLC said in a statement.

“It has neither provided the Office of the Ombudsman with any report as a consequence of any investigation of subject accounts for any purpose,” it added.

Panelo said it was evident that the documents produced by both Trillanes and the anti-graft body were “fake.”

Following AMLC’s statement, Panelo said he was now studying the possible filing of cases against Carandang.

“It’s a big deal that AMLC denied it. Meaning, what they’re (Office of the Ombudsman) doing is fake. We will study this case, whether we will pursue a legal suit against the Deputy Ombudsman, whether administrative or criminal,” Panelo said.

“I am still studying what case should be filed against him. It’s all right to me that it was denied. It appeared that the bases [against Duterte] were fake. [The claim of] Trillanes was fake. [Carandang’s claim] was also fake,” he added.

On Wednesday, Panelo cautioned that Carandang might face an administrative complaint for violating Section 3 (f) of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and employees when he earlier revealed that the Ombudsman obtained from AMLC similar copies showed by Senator Trillanes.

Source: SunStar Philippines