Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab on Wednesday urged the public to closely examine the context of figures cited in a report by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, saying the timeline covered by the data was crucial in assessing accountability.
Ungab said the reported 3.92 billion pesos in transactions covered the period from 2005 to 2026, or 21 years, and should not be directly linked to a much shorter span in public office.
He said that if the timeframe was narrowed to 2022 to 2026, which he said coincided with the term of Vice President Sara Duterte, the amount involved would be 63.8 million pesos.
The lawmaker said public discussion should distinguish between transactions accumulated over more than two decades and those that fall within a specific term of office.
He said this was particularly important in assessing accountability and in any impeachment-related proceedings, which he argued should focus on the actual period of incumbency.
Ungab also warned against drawing conclusions from figures presented without what he described as complete context.
He said the public should look closely at the facts, including the dates covered by the reported transactions, to avoid being misled by large aggregate amounts that may span multiple years or administrations.
His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny over financial figures circulating in relation to public officials, with debate centering on how such data should be interpreted and whether aggregate totals fairly reflect actions within a specific term.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council has yet to issue a statement in response to Ungab’s remarks.
Business News Asia
