AMLC chief takes stand in Duterte impeachment trial today

The head of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is set to take the witness stand today as the impeachment court resumes proceedings on allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte amassed unexplained wealth.

AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura was originally scheduled to testify Thursday, but the impeachment court moved his appearance after Duterte’s defense team sought more time to examine financial documents involving the Vice President and her husband.

The defense requested the delay after lead counsel Sheila Sison said her team received the AMLC’s 11-page summary report only late Thursday morning.

Sison said the defense needed additional time to review 23 to 24 boxes of documents to properly prepare for the direct and cross-examinations. The defense also raised a possible issue involving the confidentiality of the financial records.

“We note that when this court ruled to grant the request of subpoena of the prosecution in July, the limitation of that ruling was only on the issuance of the subpoena,” Sison said.

Trial presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero granted the request and moved Buenaventura’s testimony to Monday. Officials from banks, insurance companies and the Bureau of Internal Revenue are expected to testify after him.

The prosecution had opposed the postponement, with counsel Chel Diokno saying the defense received the documents as early as September 2, giving it sufficient time to study the material and prepare for the AMLC chief’s testimony.

Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto expressed a “strong reservation” about delaying the proceedings.

“All this time, I thought that the prosecution and the defense have been ready with this since July, since the time we took an oath.”

“I don’t think many would enjoy a postponement only because they were not given proper time,” he added.

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, described Buenaventura’s testimony as the “main event” of the trial and stressed the need to balance the pace of the proceedings with fairness.

“We have to balance the speed with fairness,” Cayetano said.

He noted that the defense was asking only for Thursday afternoon and Friday to study the documents before the AMLC chief’s testimony.

Buenaventura’s appearance marks a key stage in the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on the second impeachment article, which centers on allegations concerning Duterte’s wealth and financial records.