Sara Duterte lawyer apologizes to senator-judges over remarks on confidentiality rules

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Defense counsel Mark Vinluan apologized Tuesday to senator-judges over his remarks during the cross examination of Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), wherein the former repeatedly pointed out that disclosure of bank transactions could mean jail time for all those who will use the information.

"We just want to test the credibility of the witness," Vinluan said during Day 34 of the impeachment court of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"It is never our intention to cause intimidation to the members of the Honorable impeachment court. I personally apologize and I can commit to be more circumspect moving forward," Vinluan added.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero noted Vinluan's manifestation, saying it was "well-taken."

On Monday, Vinluan repeatedly underscored that Section 8A of the Anti-Money Laundering Act which provides that the Anti-Money Laundering Council or AMLC and its secretariat should securely protect information, received or processed and shall not reveal in any manner any information known to them by reason of their office.

As such, Vinulan said, "the law prohibits the disclosure in any manner of confidential information including those submitted by the banks and other covered persons to the AMLC" and that this prohibition "extends to the members of the media which are here today for the purpose of broadcasting these proceedings to the general public."

"The defense, therefore, respectfully submits that allowing this witness to testify will breach confidentiality, violate the law, and disregard the explicit warning by the AMLC, all in violation of the respondent accused rights. We, therefore, put on record that defense is not and will not be complicit in breaking the law," Vinluan said.

Senator-judge Vicente Sotto III responded by saying that the defense should be reminded that the members of Congress have parliamentary immunity in exercising their mandate.

Senator-judges Raffy Tulfo and Francis Pangilinan shared Sotto’s sentiments, saying that the defense should not go around making threats, and that the defense should go to the Supreme Court if they feel that they are aggrieved with the disclosure of AMLC records.

For her part, senator-judge Risa Hontiveros said journalists should not be threatened from reporting the goings on in the impeachment trial of the vice president. — VDV, GMA News