QC prosecutors recommend dismissal of Mans Carpio complaint over bank record disclosure

MANILA — The Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor has recommended the dismissal of the complaint of Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, against several lawmakers and government officials over the disclosure of the couple’s bank records, his legal team said Wednesday.

"We acknowledge the September 7, 2026 Resolution of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office recommending the dismissal of our client’s complaint against the respondents," Carpio's lawyer Peter Paul Danao said in a statement.

Danao pointed out that the complaint “was recommended for dismissal without prejudice and on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.”

“The Resolution therefore does not constitute a final determination on the merits of the allegations raised in the complaint,” he said.

He said their team was still waiting for and would review the official copy of the resolution. Carpio “reserves the right to exhaust all available legal remedies to challenge the Resolution, consistent with his right to seek appropriate relief under the law and existing rules,” his lawyer added.

“The finding that the acts complained of were allegedly committed in relation to public office also leaves open the appropriate legal remedy and forum for pursuing the matter,” Danao said.

“At the very least, our client retains the option to refile the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, which the Resolution itself identifies as the proper forum based on its jurisdictional finding,” he added.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) revealed during a House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaint against the Vice President that it had received reports of "suspicious" and "covered" bank transactions amounting to P6.77 billion linked to Duterte and Carpio during a period of nearly 20 years.

Carpio’s camp argued that the law prohibits AMLC from revealing any information it obtained "in any manner." They added that the House hearings were not part of the exception to the bank secrecy law.

Last April, Carpio filed complaints against several lawmakers, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr., and AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura over the disclosure of the financial records.

Akbyan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, one of the respondents in the case, welcomed the dismissal and maintained that the disclosure of the financial records was the “constitutional duty” of the House Committee on Justice.

“Imbes na nagsampa ng mga walang saysay na kaso laban sa mga members ng (Committee on Justice) at mga kritiko, harapin dapat ni VP Sara ang impeachment case,” Cendaña added in a statement.

Another respondent, ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, said the complaint “is merely a harassment suit meant to intimidate lawmakers who are just carrying out their duties.”

“Tama lang na ibinasura ng piskalya ang malisyoso at walang batayang kaso ni Mans Carpio laban sa aming House prosecutors at iba pang mambabatas,” House prosecutor Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon added.

“Tunay na papaliit na ang mundo ng mag-asawang Duterte-Carpio. At talagang papunta na tayo sa exciting part,” he said.

With the decision of the QC Prosecutor’s Office, House prosecutor Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua is optimistic a hurdle has been removed from the testimony of some witnesses in the impeachment article accusing the Vice President of having unexplained wealth.

“Very timely, considering na next week na magsisimula ang impeachment hearing patungkol dito sa unexplained wealth. With this, ‘yung mga testigong uupo na dinamay nila dito, para harassin, para mapigilan ‘yung kanilang mga sasabihin sa impeachment ay wala nang magiging hadlang,” Chua said.

“Naniniwala kami na lahat itong mga kaso na ibinibato ay para lamang mapigilan at para ma-harass ang mga testigo. Hindi na ito magiging balakid para sila ay tumestigo dito sa impeachment trial, lalung-lalo na ang tatalakayin ngayon ay patungkol sa unexplained wealth,” he said.

“With this decision, tumaas lang din ‘yung confidence natin na magtutuloy-tuloy yung proseso na ito hanggang makamit yung pananagutan. Hindi umeeffect, hindi nagsistick ‘yung attempts to intimidate not only witnesses, but also the legislators that are just doing their jobs. So we'll continue to do our jobs, we'll continue to uphold the process hanggang sa pinakadulo nito,” Chua added.

He underscored the need for the Vice President to explain her side on the impeachment articles.

“Kung wala naman siyang kasalanan, ito na rin ‘yung tamang venue para maipaliwanag niya ang kanyang punto, at maipresenta niya sa taumbayan punto por punto ang kanilang mga sagot sa bawat alegasyong ibinabato sa kanya,” Chua said.

“May reservation ang aming pre-trial brief, at doon siya papasok sa reservation… We respect her constitutional right, at hindi naman natin maiaalis na ‘yun ay i-invoke niya. But then again, sa amin, walang pinakamagandang testigo dito at dapat magpaliwanag dito kundi ang bise Presidente mismo,” he said.

But with or without Duterte testifying in her impeachment trial, the prosecution is confident in the strength of their evidence against her, according to Chua.

“Humarap siya o hindi ay matibay ‘yung aming kaso, ‘yung aming mga inilalatag na ebidensya. Kung hindi siya darating… na-miss niya yung tsansa para makapagpaliwanag sa ating taumbayan,” he said.

The House prosecution targets to submit before the Senate impeachment court within the day its request to subpoena its first set of witnesses for the unexplained wealth impeachment article.