Duterte impeachment trial day 7: Court to rule on tax, bank records

The Senate Impeachment Court. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — On the seventh day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, the Senate Impeachment Court will decide whether to issue a subpoena for Duterte’s bank and tax records. The House prosecution panel requested the documents as possible evidence for presentation when the court tackles Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth under Article II of the impeachment complaint, the last of the articles to be discussed. On July 17, the prosecution, through Rep. Chel Diokno, presented its arguments, saying it was not the first time the impeachment court had accepted such documents as evidence, citing the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Article continues after this advertisement Diokno argued that the impeachment court has the “unique power and right” to examine bank and tax records to decide the case “based on the whole truth… for the interest and welfare of the Filipino people.” READ: Prosecution, defense clash over VP’s bank, tax records On the other hand, Duterte’s defense team, through lawyer Michael Poa, objected to the issuance of a subpoena, saying the law protects Duterte’s confidential financial information. Poa also argued that if a subpoena is issued only to find incriminating evidence after the charges have been filed, it becomes “a weapon of a fishing expedition.” Despite holding a caucus after the oral arguments, the senator-judges failed to decide on the prosecution’s request. The senator-judges will have the opportunity on Monday to debate whether to issue a subpoena for Duterte’s bank and tax records. /mcm Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.