The Palace on Thursday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally address the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report flagging billions of pesos in transactions linked to her and her husband, stressing that the burden of accountability lies with her as a public servant.
In a press briefing held on April 23, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that it is more appropriate for the public to hear the Vice President’s side regarding the nearly ₱6.8 billion worth of flagged transactions spanning from 2006 to 2025.
The statement follows a report from the AMLC to congressmen on Wednesday, which identified significant financial movements in bank accounts linked to Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio.
“Mas maganda po malaman natin kung ano ba ang reaction ng Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
No Reaction from the President
Despite the gravity of the figures presented by the AMLC, Castro noted that the information is not considered “new” by the administration and does not necessitate a formal statement from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Hindi ito bago… walang reaksyon ang Pangulo, walang reaksyon ang Palasyo,” she clarified.
The Palace Press Officer further dismissed the need for the executive branch to provide guidance or a specific message to the Vice President on how to handle the controversy.
“Malaki na siya,” Castro remarked. “Hindi kailangang bigyan ng mensahe ang Bise Presidente.”
A Call for Transparency
While the Palace is maintaining a distance from the issue, Castro emphasized that the expectations for transparency remain high for any high-ranking official.
She reminded the Vice President of her inherent duty to the Filipino people.
“Public servant siya… siya po ang dapat na makaalam kung anong dapat niyang gawin,” Castro added.
As of press time, the Office of the Vice President has yet to issue an official response regarding the ₱6.8 billion AMLC findings.