PASAY CITY, Philippines — House prosecution panel member and Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon on Monday, October 5, dismissed suggestions from defense counsel that Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura had been “coached” prior to testifying in Vice President Sara Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial.
“I don’t think he needs to be coached. Magaling ’yung bata,” Ridon remarked during an ambush interview on the sidelines of the trial’s 32nd day.
The issue emerged after defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan pointed out that the prosecution’s presentation slides featured specific scenarios that matched the exact examples Buenaventura later shared to explain red flags for suspicious transactions.
Vinluan suggested it was unlikely the slide creators could have anticipated those details without previous communication with the witness, though he clarified that the defense was “not accusing anyone of anything.”
Ridon defended Buenaventura’s competence, highlighting his credentials as a 2015 law graduate from Bulacan State University who placed 10th in that year’s Bar examinations, following an undergraduate psychology degree from the University of the Philippines.
Prosecution panel member Atty. Mae Divinagracia, who conducted the direct examination, clarified that the presentation materials were derived from official AMLC issuances and reporting guidelines already provided to the prosecution.
The testimony was offered under Article II of the impeachment charges, which alleges that Vice President Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth and failed to accurately state her assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
Divinagracia highlighted key financial transactions under review, including ₱319 million in remittances sent by Chinese firms to Cale88 Foods Corporation—a company established in 2021 where Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, holds a 47.5% stake.
“Ang Cale88 Foods Corporation, na itinatag lamang noong 2021 at 47.5 percent ng shares ay hawak ni Atty. Carpio, ay tumanggap ng ₱319 million na remittance mula sa mga kumpanya sa China,” Divinagracia stated.
“Tatlo rito ang iniulat ng bangko bilang kahina-hinala: walang legal or trade obligation, walang layunin, at walang katwirang pang-ekonomiya,” she noted.
Divinagracia further stated that approximately ₱4.5 billion moved through 15 corporations tied to the couple between 2022 and 2025.
“Mula 2022 hanggang 2025, halos ₱4.5 billion ang kabuuang pumasok at lumabas sa 15 korporasyon kung saan may interes ang mag-asawa,” she said.
According to prosecutors, around ₱1.6 billion flowed into the couple’s accounts and ₱1.3 billion flowed out, while ₱1.4 billion remained unclassified.
During his testimony, Buenaventura detailed common indicators of suspicious activity, such as rapid money movements, frequent large cash withdrawals inconsistent with financial standing, and transaction splitting designed to evade reporting thresholds.
He also confirmed that the AMLC complied with tribunal subpoenas for records involving Duterte, Carpio, and affiliated entities covering 2007 through 2025.