MANILA, Philippines — The legal team representing the spouse of the Vice President has issued a stern warning to media outlets and social media personalities, asserting that the publication or citation of alleged Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports is a direct violation of Philippine law.
The statement comes after several reports surfaced online claiming to detail confidential financial transactions, a move the camp describes as a coordinated effort to “malign and harass” the family through the illegal use of state resources.
In a formal press release, the legal counsel emphasized that under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), all records and reports submitted to the council are strictly confidential. The camp argued that any unauthorized disclosure, even by third parties like the press, carries heavy criminal penalties.
“The law is clear: AMLC reports are not public documents,” the statement read. “Disseminating these alleged reports, regardless of their authenticity, is a criminal act intended to bypass due process and conduct a trial by publicity.”
The Vice President’s spouse’s camp further alleged that the “leak” is part of a broader political strategy to weaponize government agencies against perceived adversaries. They noted that the timing of these reports coincides with ongoing legislative debates and budget hearings involving the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The camp challenged the sources of the leaks to bring their evidence to the proper courts rather than “feeding unverified and illegally obtained documents to the media.”
While the media often cites “public interest” as a justification for reporting on financial transparency, the legal team countered that public interest does not grant immunity for violating specific penal laws regarding bank secrecy and AMLC confidentiality.
“Media organizations have a responsibility to verify not just the truth of the information, but the legality of its source,” the counsel added. “We will not hesitate to take the necessary legal actions against those who continue to propagate these illegal leaks.”
The Anti-Money Laundering Council has yet to issue its own statement regarding the alleged leak or the authenticity of the documents being circulated. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been urged by some lawmakers to investigate the source of the breach to maintain the integrity of the country’s financial monitoring systems.
As the legal battle lines are drawn, the controversy underscores the intensifying friction within the upper echelons of the current administration.