LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Oct. 6, 2026
MANILA, Philippines – On Day 34 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the defense resumes its cross-examination of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director, lawyer Ronel Buenaventura, as the court continues examining financial records involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
READ: Highlights: Day 33 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Oct. 5, 2026
Key developments:
- The defense had earlier opposed Buenaventura’s presentation as a witness, citing financial confidentiality laws. The impeachment court, however, ruled that bank secrecy protections are not absolute in accountability proceedings.
- Buenaventura earlier testified that banks reported 666 covered transactions exceeding P500,000 and 55 suspicious transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2007 to 2025, totaling P4.4 billion.
- The AMLC official confirmed that inward financial transactions from mainland China and Hong Kong to Carpio’s CALE88 Foods Corp. amounted to P319,326,770.41, a figure close to what former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier alleged.
- He also testified that joint accounts of Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, recorded P193,705,615.88 in transactions in a single day on March 28, 2014.
- Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan questioned whether the reported transactions accounted for the repeated movement or “rotation” of the same funds.
- Vinluan warned Buenaventura and members of the media about possible violations of bank secrecy laws, drawing criticism from some senator-judges over what they described as the “chilling” or “threatening” tone of the questioning.
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero thanked AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura for his patience and for answering questions from the senator-judges and both panels.
Escudero noted that Buenaventura now holds the record for the longest time spent on the witness stand in a Philippine impeachment trial. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
“Kung absolute confidentiality po, hindi kami makakapag-file ng kaso.”
AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura tells Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan that the absolute confidentiality rule only pertains to unauthorized disclosures, otherwise the AMLC would not be able to freeze accounts, file cases in court, and perform the other functions of the agency. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asks AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura whether it is legal for a third party, like former senator Antonio Trillanes, to request access to AMLC files like CTRs and STRs.
Buenaventura said third parties may request, but such requests would have to be evaluated and are “more likely” to be denied under AMLC rules and guidelines. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Mans Carpio’s Landbank account balances from 2022-2025 unveiled at trial
AMLC exec stumped by gap in Sara Duterte SALN vs bank records
Barbers hits defense’ ‘veiled threats’ despite ruling: Not doing homework
LOOK: LandBank Davao R. Magsaysay branch manager Raquel dela Cerna testified that Atty. Mans Carpio has one active account at the branch.
The account had the following year-end balances: #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Prosecution presents second bank official Raquel dela Cerna, manager of LandBank’s Davao R. Magsaysay branch.
She is called to authenticate bank records involving Vice President Sara Duterte and Atty. Mans Carpio. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura tells defense counsel Mark Vinluan said the tabular summaries are based on reported transactions and are not conclusive proof of Vice President Sara Duterte’s cash on hand, unexplained wealth or ill-gotten wealth. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Sen. Robin Padilla asked that members of “Tapang at Malasakit” group not be generalized in allegations of Chinese funding, noting that the claim was raised by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes outside the impeachment court. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Defense counsel Mark Vinluan apologized for any impression of intimidation during his cross-examination of the Anti-Money Laundering Council witness.
Senator-judges called out Vinluan after he cited penalties for disclosing confidential AMLC information, which they said could be perceived as intimidating to the witness or the media. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
The certificate of outstanding balances subpoenaed by the Senate impeachment court to the Landbank of the Philippines San Pedro Branch in Davao was not found among the bank’s document submissions. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
LOOK: Prosecution presents Eunice Sumatra, manager of LandBank San Pedro Davao branch, as a witness for Article II, which alleges unexplained wealth.
Sumatra is the first of 14 representatives from eight banks the prosecution plans to present to authenticate financial records involving Vice President Sara Duterte and Atty. Mans Carpio.
Prosecution counsel James Bryan Ibrahim Alih says the records cover 30 bank accounts with combined year-end balances exceeding P190 million. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Prosecution counsel James Alih starts presenting bank and insurance company representatives.
Prosecution offers their testimony to authenticate financial records involving Vice President Sara Duterte, Atty. Mans Carpio and entities linked to them. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
“Kayo na po ang record holder ng may pinakamahabang panahon sa witness stand.”
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero thanked AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura for his time, patience after two days on the witness stand.
“Nairaos din natin, Atty. Ronel. Salamat po. Salamat po sa inyong oras, panahon, pasensya, pagtitiyaga at pagsagot sa katanungan ng mga senator-judges at magkabilang partido.”
Escudero noted that Buenaventura now holds the record for the longest time spent on the witness stand in an impeachment trial, not only in the current proceedings but also in previous Philippine impeachment trials.
“Hindi ko po sasabihin congratulations, pero maraming salamat po. You’re excused, sir.” #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura has been excused as a witness in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at 2:42 p.m. after around 12 cumulative hours of testifying. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Malacañang denies Sara Duterte’s claim of Palace smear drive
WATCH: AMLC records not conclusive, only show reported Duterte, Carpio transactions
WATCH: AMLC records do not show China government funneled funds to Calle 88
DAY 34
LOOK: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Ronel Buenaventura faces cross-examination by defense lawyers during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Buenaventura took the witness stand to testify on financial and bank transaction records being examined in connection with allegations of unexplained wealth against the Vice President. #VPonTrial |
: Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘TE, WALANG CONFLICT OF INTEREST’
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon responds to Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that he has a conflict of interest in handling the impeachment case, as he previously served as a consultant for the City Government of Davao. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Defense cites no China gov’t ties to CALE88; Hontiveros says firms state-linked
Confidentiality not absolute, says AMLC official
AMLC witness cites records when pressed on Sara Duterte’s wealth
AMLC: Suspicious transaction reports do not prove illegal activity
Senator-judge Robin Padilla denies receiving money from China after the Tapang at Malasakit alliance, which lists Vice President Sara Duterte as a member of its board of trustees, was mentioned at the impeachment trial for allegedly receiving a P150 million donation from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
LOOK: Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol had a courtesy visit at the office of Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo, who previously criticized the statements of the former over the weekend. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘KAYO PO AY TAGA-BULACAN?’
Senator-judge Robin Padilla began his interjections by asking witness AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura about his hometown and his being a bar topnotcher, before proceeding to question the Anti-Money Laundering Act section on confidentiality. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Vice President Sara Duterte denies former Police Officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.’s allegations of inconsistencies in her statements and firmly rejects his claim that he visited her house. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘IS IT LEGAL FOR THIRD PARTY LIKE FORMER SEN. TRILLANES TO REQUEST ACCESS TO AMLC DATABASE?’
Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned the legality of third-party requests for AMLC records, and witness AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura said the agency will likely deny them based on its rules and guidelines. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
WATCH: Lawyer apologizes after senator-judges flag ‘intimidation’
LOOK: Sen. Risa Hontiveros says some Chinese companies that remitted money to Cale88 Food Corp. are state-owned enterprises.
She asked AMLC Exec. Dir. Ronel Buenaventura if AMLC probed Chinese companies behind the P319 million in covered and suspicious transactions involving Cale88.
Buenaventura said he could not answer beyond what was reflected in the AMLC records presented to the court.
Hontiveros cited information linking some of the entities to Chinese state-owned enterprises and asked if the AMLC considered these links.
Buenaventura said he would need to review the information and took note of the points raised. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Sara Duterte lawyer apologizes to senator-judges over ‘intimidating’ remarks
AMLC Exec Atty. Ronel Buenaventura refused to disclose whether or not the agency took action against VP Sara Duterte’s suspicious transactions worth millions of pesos. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘THEY ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE PROOF OF THE TRUE WEALTH OF VP SARA, CORRECT?’
LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asked AMLC Exec. Dir. Ronel Buenaventura if the tabular summaries and reports were conclusive proof of VP Sara Duterte’s cash on hand, unexplained wealth, or ill-gotten wealth.
Buenaventura said the reports only show transactions based on CTRs and STRs and are not conclusive proof of Duterte’s actual wealth.
He also acknowledged he has no personal knowledge establishing that Duterte amassed hundreds of millions or billions, saying his testimony was based only on transactions reported to the AMLC. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘DO AMLC RECORDS SHOW THAT THE CHINA-BASED ENTITIES REPRESENT CHINA OR THE CHINESE GOV’T?’
Atty. Mark Vinluan stressed that based on AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura’s testimony on Tuesday, no AMLC records show that China, as a country, funneled funds to Cale88 Foods Corp., a company associated with Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases Carpio. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan pressed AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura on records involving Cale88 Foods Corp.
Buenaventura said AMLC records show remittances were made to Cale88, not directly to Vice President Sara Duterte or her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio. He also said the AMLC has no records showing how much of the transactions benefited Duterte or Carpio.
On China-based entities that transacted with Cale88, Buenaventura said AMLC records do not show that they were illegitimate businesses or represented the Chinese government.
He also said the records do not show that China, as a country, funneled funds to Cale88. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
Sara Duterte camp disputes AMLC confirmation of China funds to Carpio firm
‘IT’S NEVER OUR INTENTION TO CAUSE INTIMIDATION’
Atty. Mark Vinluan apologized after senator-judges called him out for raising possible administrative and criminal liability against those who disclose and report confidential information, including the media, during his cross-examination on Monday. #VPonTrial
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
House prosecutor Terry Ridon requested the Senate impeachment court to conduct a conference with the subpoenaed bank and insurance representatives “to obtain preliminary information relating to their identities, their type of work, among related matters.”
The court granted the request, but stated that it should be held while the defense’s cross-examination of AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura is ongoing, as well as under the court’s supervision. #VPonTrial | @zacariansINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
LOOK: DAY 34: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
A quorum has been declared, with 16 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
‘YUNG PANANAKOT SA MGA KAWANI NG GOBYERNO, HINDI NAMIN PALALAGPASIN’
WATCH: House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon reacts to the alleged threats made by the defense team on prosecutors, AMLC officials, senator-judges, and members of the media. #VPonTrial | @bellepechayINQ
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— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 6, 2026
WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Oct. 6, 2026
No law violated in AMLC disclosures, says lead prosecutor
Day 34 of Duterte trial: Defense resumes AMLC records cross-exam
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