FILE PHOTO: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian —SENATE PRIB MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian defended the upper chamber and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) over the public disclosure of information on suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
According to Gatchalian, the Senate and AMLC did not violate any policies for releasing information to the public regarding Guo’s case, including her 36 bank accounts. In a press conference Friday, the senator made clear that the disclosed information is all public records, considering that the Court of Appeals (CA) already ordered the freezing of Guo’s assets. “Kaya nga inantay muna ng Senado na i-file, at inantay din ng Senado magkaroon ng ruling dahil kung wala namang ruling ang CA, ibig sabihin walang probable cause.
So may ruling na at ‘yung records nasa CA na, so anyone can ask for those records dahil nga it forms part of public records na,” Gatchalian explained. (That’s why the Senate waited for it to be filed, the Senate also waited for the ruling because if the CA did not rule, then there’s no probable cause. So there’s a ruling, and the records are also in CA, so anyone can ask for those records because they form part of public records already.
) READ: Alice Guo’s assets frozen by CA Gatchalian’s remark was a reaction to reports that Guo’s legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, complained about the release of his client’s bank account details to the public. The lawyer said it violates the rights of Gu.