QC prosecutor recommends dismissal of Carpio financial records complaint
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the dismissal of lawyer Manases Carpio’s complaint on the disclosure of his financial records and those of his wife, Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a copy of the 23-page resolution shared by Carpio’s camp to the Inquirer on Wednesday, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office recommended the dismissal of the complaint “without prejudice.”
The resolution dated Sept. 7 said the alleged acts of the respondents were “in relation to their office.”
“By no stretch of the imagination could we rule that these acts of the respondents were done in their private capacity,” it further read.
Carpio’s counsel, Peter Paul Danao, meanwhile acknowledged the resolution.
“Our client 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,” he said.
Caprio and his lawyers previously filed criminal complaints before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and several high-profile lawmakers.
The complaint stems from the April 22 hearing of the House Committee on Justice, where AMLC reports detailing Carpio’s transactions from 2006 to 2025 were unraveled before the general public.
With the impeachment trial against Duterte also ongoing, Carpio’s financial records are expected to be examined alongside those of his wife.
The prosecution team is expected to next tackle Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.
In connection with this, the impeachment court previously received the subpoenaed bank and tax records of the couple.
On the Quezon City prosecutors’ office’ decision, Carpio’s lawyer emphasized that the complaint was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
“The Resolution, therefore, does not constitute a final determination on the merits of the allegations raised in the complaint,” Danao said.
He believes that since the actions were done by AMLC and the lawmakers in relation to public office, Carpio may still pursue the case through another forum like the Ombudsman.
“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,” Danao cited. /apl /mr
