By Lane Afable, News Editor
The Constitution prevails over ordinary legislation—including the country’s bank secrecy laws.
This was stressed on Wednesday by House Committee on Justice chair Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro in her opening statement at the panel’s final hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Luistro stressed that no complaint or legal maneuver can overturn the fundamental principle that public officials are accountable to the Filipino people at all times.
“Magreklamo na sila hangga’t gusto nila, ngunit hindi nito mababago ang isang simpleng katotohanan: ang Konstitusyon ang pinakamataas na batas,” Luistro said.
“At ayon sa Konstitusyon, lahat ng opisyal ay dapat may pananagutan sa taumbayan sa lahat ng oras.”
Luistro stressed that any limitation imposed by ordinary legislation—including bank secrecy—cannot supersede the Constitution’s mandate for transparency and accountability, particularly in the context of impeachment proceedings.
“Anumang limitasyon na nilikha ng ordinaryong batas—kasama na ang bank secrecy—ay hindi maaaring manaig laban sa mandato ng Konstitusyon para sa public accountability,” she explained.
The Justice panel chief emphasized that the committee is acting within its constitutional authority to compel evidence, including financial records flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
“At tayo sa Komiteng ito ang boses ng utos na iyan, kaya nga pwede tayo mag-issue ng nararapat na subpoena, at lalo na sa kaso ng impeachment, pwede nating hingiin ang report ng AMLC,” Luistro said.
Luistro emphasized that bank secrecy laws were never intended to shield unexplained wealth, but to protect legitimate deposits, stressing that invoking such laws cannot be used to obstruct a constitutionally mandated inquiry.
She added that the committee will proceed with its hearings, guided by evidence and anchored on its duty to determine whether grounds exist for impeachment.
